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| LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, i
f UNITED STATES. OF AMERICA.!
* . _ _ _______ _ ■*.»■*
• ' ■ ' ' ".'.'. '••-'-■■•••■• x . , \ 1
GOSPEL SONNETS;
OE,
SPIRITUAL SONGS.
IN SIX PARIS.
I. The Believer's ECpoufals. J IV. The Believer's Lodging.
II. The Believer's jointure, j V. The Believer's Soliloquy.
III. The Believers Riddle. | VI. The Believer's Principles.
CONCERNING
CREATION AND ^REDEMPTION, LAW AND GOSPEL, JUS-
TIFICATION AND SANCTIFICATION, E<A£TH
AND SENSE, HEAVEN AN5> E1ARTH.
BY THE LATE
%s
REV. MR. RALPH ERSKINE,
MINISTER Off THE GOSPEL AT DUNFERMLINE.
Mtra tanam t sed vera canon. buch. psalm lxxvil,
PUBLISHED BY
VENNIMdN fcf BLISS, LANSING BUR OH.
Q., PENNIMAN AND CO. PRINTERS,
1806:
ADVERTISEMENT,
IF the number of Editions of any performance,
be a rrtark of public approbation, Mr. Erfkirie's
Gospel Sonnets have a claim to that diftiiic-
tion, and they may be ranked amongft thofe of
general efteem and ufefulnefs ; few books have
been fo often printed in the fame fpace of time.
The prefent Edition, it is hoped, will be found
not lefs worthy of public encouragement, than
thofe that have gone before it, as confiderable
attention has been paid to the correcting, by
comparing it with former editions ; and every
thing is to be found here that has appeared in
the mod approved copies of the Gofp^l Son-
nets.
Mr. Erfkine's Poems, as Dr. Bradbury fays,
are greatly to be efte^med ; and above all, for
that which animates l|he whole, the favour of
divine and experimental knowledge.
PREFACE
BY THE PUBLISHER.
POETICAL compofitions, it will readily be admitted*
are of a very ancient original ; and very early fpecimens
'this kind of writing are yet to be found on record,
in facred* and profane hiftory. Writings in poefy
ave many peculiar excellencies in them, and particular
advantages attending them i and when men, endued
with poetical talents, employ them on fubjects of real
importance, the fparkling and flowerv images, the mag-
nificent and lofty expreiiions, and the ftriking figures
and rhetorical embeliifliments, add fuch a native gran-
deur, dignity, and majefty to the fubjed, that the mind
is not only truly elevated, the attention gained, the af-
fections moved, and devotion excited ; but the memory
is gradually prepared to retain and be benefited hy thenv
on account of the beautiful and elegant manner in which:
the various topics are elucidated.
No fubject is more intereiting, or can be a fitter theme,,
for thofe vefted with a poetical genius, thon thofe of an
evangelical nature, either directly founded upon fome par-
ticular portion of facred writ, or -drawn from it by juft
and neceifary confequence.. No writings, for jnftnefs of
fentiment and fublimity of ftile, can equal or compare
with thefe of divine infpiration : and though the myde-
ries of Chriftianity, and the wonders of our holy religion,
ftand in no need of gay trimmings and poetical embel--
lifhments to fet them off; yet fuch is the fuperior ex-
cellency of infpired poefy, that the brighteft and moil
elevated defcriptions of a mortal pen mull vail to it :
and therefore fays a celebrated writer, * If any would
c attempt to be matter of true eloquence, and aim at a
* proper elevation of ilile, let him read, with unreniit-
* See the "Song of Mofes at the Red. Sea, Exodus xv. I— -21,.
This Song is the moft ancient and fublime piece of poetry in the
world: the images are natural— the arrangement of its ideas is..
beautiful — and the ftrain of piety which breathes through the
whole, is truly evangelical.
A 2u
VI PREFACE.
1 ting diligence, the ancient prophets, the infpired evaiv
* gelifts and apoftles ; for their writings are an abundant
* fource of all the riches and ornament of fpeech.'
It hath been now a long and juft complaint, that po-
efy, which is of a divine original, fhould have b^n fo
much debafed to the worft of purpofes, in decorating
vice and profanenefs ; and that men, endued with fuch
a happy talent, fhould fo much employ it in furnifhing
our theatrical entertainments, or upon ludicrous and
profane trifles. How happy would it have been for the
world, what an ornament to Chriftianity and advantage
to the church ; and how honouring to themfelves, as
well as beneficial to the interefts of religion, had they
employed it on evangelical and divine fubjecls, in point-
ing out the beauties of creation, the bounty of provi-
dence, the depth of redeeming love and grace, and the
excellency and fweetnefs of true religion and practical
godlinefs !
The Rev, Mr. Erfkine, author of the following Poems %
was happy in employing his poetical .talent to the bed
of purpofes : the fubjects he made choice of to handle,
were of the utmoft importance for mankind to know j
his manner of treating them truly evangelical ; and the
fpirit that breathes through them, heavenly and divine ;
tending to warm the heart, excite to genuine devotion,
and to infpire the mind with juft and proper fentiments
of God and true religion.
The fentiments of Dr. Bradbury, relative to our au-
thor's poetical talent are very juft. l - Mr. Erfkine's Po-
* ems J fays he, * are greatly to be efteemed, for the fweet-
* nefs of the verfe, the difpofition of the fubjecls, the el-
* egancy of the compofition, and, above all, for that
* which animates the whole, the favour of divine and ex-
* perimental knowledge/**
* See his preface to fome of Mr. Erfkine's Sermons, printed at
London, in 173 &
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
PART I. The Believer's Efpoufals.
Preface, . . . . . . . Page 29
c
HAP. I. A general account of man's fall in Aam, and the
remedy provided in Chrifl: ; and a particular account of
man's being naturally wedded to the law as a covenant of
works, ......... 30
:ct 1. The fall of Adam, ib. Seel:. 2. Redemption through
rid, 31. Seel;. 3. Man's legal difpoiition, 33. Seel:. 4. Man's
Uriel: attachment to legal terms, or to the law as a condition
of life, 35. Seel;. 5. Man's vain attempt to feek life by ChrifVs
righteouinefs joined with their own; and legal hopes natural
to all, . . ' . . ... . . 37
Chap. II. The manner of a finner's divorce from the law in a
work of humiliation, and of his marriage to the Lord Jefu3
Chrifl ; or, The way how a finner comes to be a believer, 40
Seel:. I. Of a law work, and the workings of legal pride un-
der it, ib. Seel:. 2. Conviction of fin and wrath carried 011
more deeply and effectually on the heart, 43. Seel:. 3. The.:
deeply humbled foul relieved with fome faving difcoveries of
Chrifl: the Redeemer, 46. Sect. 4. The workings of the Spirit
of faith, in feparatingtbe heart from all felf-righteoufnefs, and
drawing out its confent to, and defire after Cnrift alone and
wholly, 48. Seel:. 5. Faith's view of the freedom of grace,
cordial renunciation of all its own ragged righteoufnefs, and
formal acceptance of and doling with the perfon of glorious
Chrift, . . . 51
Chap. III. The fruits of the believer's marriage with Chrift,
particularly gofpel holinefs, and obedience to the law as a
rule, . . . . . . . . . 5 j
Seel:. 1. The fweet folemnky of the marriage now over, and
the fad effects of the remains of a legal fpirit, ib. Seel:, a. Faith's
victories over fin and Satan r through new and further difcov-
eries of Chrifl:, making believers more fruitful in holinefs, than
all other pretenders to works, $$. Se£L 3. True faving faith
magnifying the law, both as a covenant and rule. Falfe faith
unfruitful and ruining, 57. Seel:. 4. The believer only being
married to Chrifl:, is ju (tiffed and fandKiied ; and the more gof-
pel freedom from the law as a covenant, the more holy con-
formity to it as a rule, 60. Se<St. 5. Gofpel Grace giving no
liberty to fin, but to holy fervice and pure obedience, 6z
im CONTENTS.
Chap. IV. A caution to all againft a legal fpirit, efpeeially to
thofe that have a profeflloa without power, and learning
without grace, . . „ . . . . 63
Chap. V. Arguments and encouragements to gofpel minifters
to avoid a legal ftrain of doctrine, and endeavour the iin-
ner's match with Chrift by gofpel means, . . 67
Sect. 1. A legal fpirit the root of damnable errors,, ib. Seel:.
a. A legal ftrain of doctrine difcovered and difcarded, 68.
Sect. 3. The hurtfulnefs of not preaching Chrift, and diftin-
guiiliing duly between law and gofpel, 69. Sect. 4. Damna-
ble pride and felf-righteoufnefs, fo natural to all men, has lit-
tle need to be encouraged by legal preaching, 71. Sect. $1
The gofpel of divine grace the only means of converting fin-
ners ; and it fliould therefore be preached molt clearly, fuliy,
and freely, . . 74
Chap. VI. An exhortation to all that are out of Chrift, in or-
der to their doling the match with him ; containing alfo
motives and directions, . . . . . . 78
Sect, 1. Conviction offered to finners, efpecially fuch as are
wedded to the law, or felf-righteous ; that they may fee their
need of Chrift/s righteoufnefs, ib. Sect. 1. Direction given
with reference to the right ufe of the means, that we reft nofc
on thefe iaftead of Chrift, the glorious Hufband,in whom alone
our help lies, 81. Sect. 3. A call to believe in Jefus Chrift,
with fome hints at the act and object of faith, 84. Sect. 4. An -
advice to finners to apply to the Sovereign mercy of God, as
It is difcovered through Chrift, to the higheft honour of juf-
tice, and other divine attributes, in order to further their faith
in him unto falvation, 87. Sect. 5. The terrible doom of un-
believers that reject the gofpel match, the offered Saviour and
falvation, . . . ... . . . . . 90
PART II. The Believer's Jointure.
Chap, I. Containing the Privileges of the Believer that is ef-
poufed to Chrift bj Faith of Divine operation, . . 95
Sect. 1. The believer's perfect; beauty, free acceptance, and
full fecurity, through the imputation of Chrift's perfect right-
eoufnefs, though imparted grace be imperfect, ib. Sect. 2,
Chrift the believer's friend, prophet, prieft, king, defence,guide, •
guard, help, and healer, 98. Sect. 3. Chrift the believer's won*
derful phyfician and wealthy friend, 100. Sect. 4. The be-
liever's fafety under the covert of Chrift's atoning blood and
powerful intereeflion, 10a. Sect. 5. The believer's faith and
hope encouraged, even in the darkeft nights of defertion and
CONTENTS. ix
diftrefs, 104. Se<5t. 6. Benefits accruing to believers, from tke
offices, names, natures, and fufferings of Chrift, 106. Sect. 7.
Chrift's fufferings further improved, and believers called to
live by faith, both when they have and want fenfible influen-
ces, 108. Sect 8. Chrift the believer's enriching treafure, no.
Sect 9. Chrift the believer's adorning garment, 112. Seel:. 10.
Chrift the believer's fweet nourishment, . . . 113
Chap. II. Containing Marks and Characters of Believers in
Chrift, together with fome further Privileges and grounds
of Comfort to Saints, . . . . . .114
Sect 1. Doubting believers called to examine themfelves by-
marks drawn from their love to him and his prefence, their
view of his glory, and their being emptied of felf-righteouf-
nefs, &c. ib. Sect 2. Believers defcribed from their faith act-
ing by divine aid, and fleeing quite out of themfelves to Jefus
Chrift, 116. Sect 3. Believers characterised by the object*
and purity of their defires, delight, joy, hatred, and love, dis-
covering they have the Spirit of Chrift, 119. Sect. 4. Believ-
ers in Chrift affect his counfel, word, ordinances, appearance,
full enjoyment in heaven, and fweet prefence here, 121. Sect*
5. The true believer's humility, dependence, zeal, growth, ad-
miration of free grace, and knowledge of Chrift's voice, 122.
Sect. 6. True believers are willing to be tried and examined.
Alfo, comforts arifing to them from Chrift's ready fupply, real
fympathy, and relieving names Suiting their need, 125. Sect.
7. The believer's experience of Chrift's comfortable prefence,
or of former comforts, to be improved for his encouragement
and fupport under hidings, 128. Sect. 8. Comfort to believ-
ers from the ftability of the promife, notwithftanding heavy
chaftifements for in, 130. Sect. 9. Comfort to believers from
Chrift's relations, his dying love, his glory in heaven, to which
he will lead them through death, and fupply them with all
neceffaries by the way, 132. Sect. 10. Comfort to believers
from the text, ' Thy Maker is thy Hufband,' inverted thus,
Thy Hufband is thy Maker : and the conclufion of this Sub-
ject, . . . . . . ... 134
PART III. The Believer's Riddle ; or, the
Myftery of Faith.
The Preface, Shewing the ufe and defign of the Riddle, and
how all fatal errors proceed from ignorance of fuch myfte-
ries, . . . . . . . . . . 138
Sect. i. The myftery of the faints' pedigree, and efpecially
of their relation to Chrifl's wonderful perSon, 142. Sect. 2.
The myftery of the Saints' life, ftate and frame, 149. Seel. 3.
* CONTENTS,
Myfteries about the faints' work and warfare, fins, farrow*,
and joys 156. Se&. 4. Myfteries in faith's extractions, war
and walk, prayers and anfwers, heights and depths, fear and
love, 161. Sea. 5. Myfteries about flefh and fpirit, liberty
and- bondage, and life and death, 171. Sett. 6. The myfterr
of free justification through Chrift's obedience and ratisfadtfon,
• I7 a-V • e< T. 7 * The m y fter y of God the juftifier; and faith
juitifying him, both in his juftifying and condemning ; or foul
juftincation and felf-condemnation, 181. Seel:. 8. The myfte-
ry of fandhfication imperfect in this life ; or, the believer do-
ing all, and doing nothing, 187. Sect. 9. The myftery of va-
rious names given to faints ; or, The flefh and fpirit deferr-
ed from inanimate things, vegetables, and fenfitives, 1O3. Sedh
10 The myftery of the faints' old and new man further de-
scribed, and the means of their fpiritual life, 198. Sea rr
The myftery of Chrift, his names, natures, and offices, 205!
&edt 12. The myftery of the believer's mixed ftate further en-
larged, and his getting good out of evil, 211. Sea. 13. The
myftery of the faints' adverfaries and adverfities, 216. Sea
14. The myftery of the believer's pardon and fecurity from
revenging wrath, not wkhftanding his fin's defert, 221. Seel:
15. The myftery of faith and fight, 228. Sea. 16. The myf-
tery of faith and worses, 231. And of rewards of grace and
debt, 235. The conclufion, . . . . . &$$
PART IV. The Believer's Lodging,
A Paraphrafe upon Pfalm lxxxiv. 239. Exercife for the be-
liever in his lodging, fourfold, 245. 1. The holy law ; or, The
ten commandments, ik 2. The unholy heart the reverfe of
God's law, 246. 3. The glorious gofpel of Chrift the remedy,
tk 4. The prayer of faith exemplified, ... 247
PART V. The Believer's Soliloquy ; efpecially in
times of Defertion, Temptation, Affliction, &c. 248
Sect 1. The deferted believer longing for perfect freedom
from fin, ik Seel:. 2. The deferted believer's prayer under
complaints of unbelief, darknefs, dcadnefs, and hardnef*, 250.
Sect. 3. The believer wading through depths of defertion and
corruption, 253. Seel:. 4. The believer's complaint of fin, for-
row, and want of love, 254. Sedt 5. The deferted foul's pray-
er for the Lord's gracious and fin-fubduing prefence, 256.
Sect. 6. The fong of heaven defired by faints on earth, 258
PART VI. The Believer's Principles.
Chap. I. Concerning Creation and ■Redemption ; or, fome of
the fnft principles of the oracles of God, 261
CONTENTS. si
Seek I. Of creation. The firfl chapter of Genefis compen-
lized, ib, Thefum of creation, 262. Seel. 2. Of redemption,
fie myftery of the Redeemer's incarnation, or God manifeft-
. in the flefh, the fum of redemption, ib. Seel:. 3. The Re-
emer's works ; or Chrift all in all, and our complete redemp-
on. A gofpel catechifm for young Christians, 264. Seel:. 4.
aith and works both excluded from the matter of juftifica-
:ion before God, that redemption may appear to be only in
hriflr, . . .'."... . . . ,268
ap. II. Concerning the law and the gofpel, ... 271
Sect. I.. The myftery of law and gofpel, ib. Seel:. 2. The
lifference between the law and the gofpel, 284. Seel:, 3. The
harmony between the law and the gofpel, 287. Seel:. 4. The
proper place and ftation of the law and the gofpel, in four
paragraphs, 291. Paragraph 1. The place and ftation of law
and gofpel in general, ib. Paragraph 2. The place and ftation
of law and gofpel in particular, 292. Paragraph 3. The gof-
pel no new law ; but a joyful found of grace and mercy, 296*
Paragraph 4. The gofpel further defcribed, as a bundle of
good news and gracious promifes, .... 298
Chap. III. Concerning Juftiiication and Sanctifi cation, their
difference and harmony, . . . . . . 30$
Sect, 1. The difference between juftiiication and fanctifica-
tion, or righteoufnefs imputed, and grace imparted, in upwards
of thirty particulars, ib. Seel;. 2. The harmony between jufti-
iication and fanctification, ... + . . 305
Chap. IV. Concerning Faith and Senfe ? . , . 307
Seel:. 1. Faith and fenfe natural compared and diftinguifh-
ed, ib. Seel. 2. Faith and fenfe fpiritual compared and diftin-
guifhed, 309. Seel. 3. The harmony and difcord between
faith and fenfe, 311. Sect. 4. The valour and victories of faith*
312. Sect. 5. The heights and depths of fenfe, 314. Sect. 6.
Faith and frames compared, or faith building upon fenfe dif-
covered, 315
Chap. V. Concerning Heaven and earth, . . . 31$
Sect. 1. The work and contention of heaven, ib. Sect. 2,
Earth defpicable, heaven defirable 3*3
THE
PREFACE TO THE READER.
Whatever apologies m£ book
prefaced with, (as to the manner in which many lines in
it are written,) (hail be here altogether dropt and for-
Lome, I new difmiis it as it is,, under the conduct of
divine Providence, to take its hazard in the world ; fince
it has already ferved its apprenticefnip iinde^ieveral im-
preffions, and gone both through kind anc -^g" e »
through good and bad report. It never z._ uch
to them that feek nothing bntpleafure and faksfzetion to
their fancy ; but I have heard, that it has donefome fer-
vice (and I hope, through the blelllng of Heaven, it may
yet do, more) to them that feek profit and edification to
their fouls.
The late edition of this book at London being more
full and complete than any that was formerly emitted,
it is fit here to acquaint the reader, that this is printed
exactly off the London copy, without any material addi-
tion or alteration, except in the third part of the book,
that comes under the name of Riddles, or Myfteries ; and
partfixthy Chap. ii. Sect. i 9 intitled, The believer' } s princi-
ples , concerning the myjleries of the law and gofpel ; both of
which (becaufe there were feveral demands in this coun-
try for a new edition,) I thought fit to confirm by fcrip-
ture texts, cited at the bottom of the page, for the ben-
efit of thofe that are weak in knowledge, and unac-
quainted with the fcripture.* I have directed them by
a letter of the alphabet, at every branch of the fentence
that is either feemingly or really oppofite to the other,
unto fome fcripture texts, one or more, for evincing the
truth thereof : by which means, the weakeft that is wil-
ling, may come to underftand the mofl difficult paradox,
or myftery, mentioned in this work ; at leali fo far as to
* The fcriptures in this edition are extended at full length.
H PREFACE.
fee, that every part of it is founded on the word of God*
either directly, or by plain and neceffary confequence.
Only this general rule is to be obferved, namely, that
the reader always confider what is the fubject treated in
every fection or ftanza ; and this, for the fake of the
mod illiterate, I fnall illuftrate by two examples ; the
one concerning the law, the other concerning the believ*
tr. The former you fee Part III. Sect. vi. ver. 25,
I'm not oblig'd to keep it more ;
Yet more oblig'd than e'er before.
Here you are to remark, that as the fubject fpoken of
is the law, fo the law in fcripture is confidered two
ways, viz. both as a covenant of works, and as a rule of
duty. Now, that the believer is under no obligation to
the law, as it is a covenant of works, or to perform obe-
dience to it as a ground of juflification, (which is alfo
the fubjecl: treated in that Section,) is confirmed in the
foot-notes by the following fcriptures, to which you are
directed by the letter (.$,) Rom. vi. 14, Gal. v. 1,2, 3,
4. Where you may fee believers are laid to be " not
under the law, but under grace;" and exhorted to
" Hand fall in the liberty wherewith Chrift hath made
them free ;" and ailured, * 6 that Chrift is become of no
effect to them, whofoever of them are juftifled by the
law, they are fallen from grace." Again, that the be-
liever is under more obligation than ever, before he was
juftified, to yield obedience to the law as it is a rule of
lifei (which is the other branch of that paradox,) is con-
firmed by thefe following texts of fcripture, to which you
are directed by the letter (ij Rom. vi. 1, 2, 15, where
it is faid, " Shall we continue in fin, that grace may
abound ? God forbid : how fhall we that are dead to fin,
live any longer therein ? What then ? fhall we fin, be-
caufe we are not under the law, but under grace ? God
forbid." From which texts, together with their con-
texts, it is evident,' that the believer's freedom from the
law as a covenant, does not at all free him from obliga-
tion to it as a rule, but fuperadds to the natural obliga-
tion that of grace, which both argumentatively and af-
fectively teaches what the law does authoritatively and-
preceptively, namely, -" to deny ungodlinefs and worldly
■
PREFACE. 15
lulls, and to live foberly, righteoufly, and godly, In this
prefent world," Tit. if. u, 12.
The other example I adduce, you may read, Part 1IL
Seel. ii. verfe 47, where the words are,
To good and evil equal bent,
I'm both a devil and a- faint.
Here the reader may notice, that the fuhjecc fpoken
t)f is the believer* or the hint's old and new man cie-
fcribed, (which is part of the title of that Section.) or
confidered as to his unregenerate and regenerate part;
in which view he is frequently fpokeof in fcripture ; ex.
gr. 1 John iii. 6, 9, it is faid of the believer, or the perfon
bom of God, that heftnneth not, and that he cannot fin^ be-
caufe he is born of God : there he is fpoken of as to his
new nature, or regenerate part. But, 1 John i. 8, the
words are, " If we fay that we have no fin, we deceive
curfelves, and the truth is not in us :" where the apoftle
fpeaks of believers unregenerate and corrupt part. Now,
this being the fcriptural reprefentation of the believer,
the forefaid paradox is eafily proved from fcripture.
The firffc branch is, that he is equally bent to good
and to evil. For the proof of this, you are directed in
the foot-note to Rom. vii. 2 1 , where the apoftle Paul,
fpeaking both of his corrupt and renewed part, fays, " I
find a law, that when I would do good, evil is prefent
with me." And, if you read the preceding and follow-
ing context, you will find him complaining how corrup-
tion bends him as far one way as grace another.
The other part of the fame paradox is, that the believ-
er is, on thefe accounts, both a devil and a. faint. Now,
that the believer is by nature and corruption a devil, is
one branch of this poiition here to be confirmed. That
he is fo by nature, is proved by the following fcriptures
in the fore-cited page at the bottom, John vi, 70, and
viii. 44, compared ; where Chrijl, fpeaking of fome that
were in a natural ft ate, viz. of Judas and the Jews, dis-
covers what is the frate of all men by nature, M that they
are of their father the devil, iince the lufts of their fa-
ther they will do ;" and therefore may be called devils,
as our Lord calls Judas, faying, " I have chofen yen
twelve, and one of you is a devil." And fuch are be-
*6 PREFACE.
lie vers alfo naturally, as defcendants of the fir ft Adam,
being " children of difobedience, and children of wrath
by nature, even as others," Eph. ii. 2, 3. And that the
believer is fo, not only by nature, but alfo by reafon of
remaining corruption, is proved at the foot of the fame
page, from James iii. 15, where that apoftle, fpeaking
of ft rife and envy, that may be even among the children
of God, (which indeed has too much taken place in all
ages,) fay6, " This wifdom defcendeth not from above,
but is earthly, fenfual, devilifh. Again, that though the
believer be by nature and corruption a devil, yet he is,
by grace and regeneration, a faint, is documented alfo,
in the fame page, from 1 Cor. vi. 11. " Such were fome
of you ; but ye are fanctined," &e.
In this manner, you may eafily go over all the reft of
the paradoxes, riddles, or myfteries, contained in this
book, and find them evidently confirmed by the fcrip-
tures of truth, the word of God. This might be no un-
profitable exercife, but tend to lead you into the true
inowledge of the gofpel, to w r hich myfteries are fo ef-
fential, that it is defigned by them, and called the wifdom
(f God in a myflery, 1 Cor. ii. 7 ; and the knowledge of
which is for effential to Chri inanity, and fo abfolutely
neceffary to falvation, that the fame apoftle declares, that
" if our gofpel be hid, it is hid to them that are loft ;
"in whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds
" of them which believe not, left the light of the glori-
" ous gofpel of Chrift, who is the image of God, mould
" fhine unto them," 2 Cor. vi. 3.
Again, if you fearch the fcriptures, you will fee many
moft proofs for every point than I have adduced, and
peihaps many much more appofite ; for thefe only are
fet down at the bottom of the page that firft occurred
to me : yet, I fuppofe, though fometimes but one, and
10 me times more fcriptures are pointed out, they are fuch
as fuJBcJently confirm the portions they relate to. But
that other fcriptures might have been adduced in plenty,
I fhall give one inftance, in the paradox now mentioned,
"viz. that every believer, while in this world, is both a dev-
il and a faint. The latter claufe is what none will deny,
namety, That every true believer is a faint ; for further
proof of which, you might fee Acts xv. 9, and xxvi. \% %
PREFACE. 17
Sec. But becaufe the nrfl claufe may feem more harm,
it may by fcripture be alio further evinced two ways :
lft, In refpeet of the daily commiilion of 2 In he has to
challenge himfelf with ; for the fcripture fays, Eccl. vii.
20, " There is not a juft man upon earth, that doth good
and finneth not." And with this compare 1 John Hi', 8,
" He that committeth fin, is of the devil. 5 ' Hence it is
plain, there is n®t a juft man upon earth, but may, in
reipedt. cf the commiffion of fin, be called a dcvih
2dly, In reipect of prevalent temptations, by Wfai :h I e
mar be harried into thofe things *?th%t fayemr ri
God 5 but of men ;" on which account Ghrift fa
ter, Matth. xvi. 23, " Get thee behind me, Satan." Ar.d
if Chrift calls Peter a devil, whom he had 1 \e£c ri r
a faint of the nrfl magnitude, verie 17. one
bleffed and enlightened ; what occaflori rnaf ever/ be-
liever have to call himfelf a devil ! Yea, it is a part
his faith and ianclity, to 'fee and acknowledge with fli
before the Lord, his own de: d iefperately v
ed heart and nature ; which a blind, fel&coneelted v. :
are ignorant of, be inr; neither acqiiaJHteil With tli
felves, nor with God and his However, fo : - r is,
that the more any (bail fearch the fertpture, tilt
hope, will they difcern, not only by the texts I have ■■
ted, but from many others alio, the tfl
of every part cf this book 3 however myllerlous fome
fao-es of it raav feem to manf.
Though fome of thefe lines may want the
that cam pleafe the curious age, yet, while th
firm upon a fcriptural foundation; nor- of trr n '■
authority, and that of the highefc nature, except ha tbe
account of mockers, and thofe (of win.- in there are too
many in our day) that are either Deifts, who under va-
lue the fcripture, or Atheifts, who deride k : and it is fad-
ly to be regretted, that thofe people are hardened in
their wicked principles and practices, by fome that
baps have a higher profeffion. For I have feeii two
prints, one called the Groan, and another the %augh t
wherein fome lines, picked out among others, have been
expofed to ridicule : but however fuch gentlemen may
laugh at their own fport, and wickedly divert themfelves-
b 2
*8 PREFACE.
with ferious matters for a time, I fear their laughing
will illue in weeping for ever ; if God by giving them
repentance, do not make them groan to purpofe, for the
evidence they thus give of either their grievous igno-
rance of the fcripture, or their grofs profanity, and of
their readineis to yield themfelves inftruments of the
devil, to promote the atheiitical fpirit of the age, which
is bent enough, without any fuch provocations, to laugh
at every thing ferious, facred, and fcriptural. This is
fo palpable, without my obfervatrion upon it, and fo felf-
evident to all that fear God, and have had the patience
to read fach prints, that I would not have thought them
worth my noticing fo far, as to make this bare mention
of them, had not Providence put the pen in my hand to
preface this edition, wherein fcriptural proofs are added
to that part of the book.
Pleader, it gives me fatisfaclion enough to underftand,
that this book has already been ufeful and edifying to
ibme, however it is entertained by others. The gofpel
itfelf is to fome the favour of 'life •, to others the favour of
death ; to fome tvifdom, to others fool'ifhnefs ; to fome
matter of faith, love, and comfort, to others matter of
mockery and fcorn. I fhall be far from thinking it any
difcredit or diiparagement to this book, if it meet with
the like entertainment. May the Lord of heaven and
earth, who overrules all things, accompany it, in its
journeys abroad or at home, with his bleiling to many
fouls, and to his care I commend it, in the words
famous Scots poet, upon Pfalm xxxv. i :
Rerum fancSte Opifex, ades,
Et p&trocinio protege me tuo.
Which may be adapted to the matter in hand thus ;
The truth which hell may criticifej
Great God, be near to patroaisc
A POEM,
DEDICATED TO THE REV. MR. RALPH ERSKINE,
BY A
LADY IN NEW-ENGLAND,
UPON
READING HIS GOSPEL SONNETS.
JlLRSKINE, thou blefled herald, found
Till fin's black empire totter to the ground ^
Well haft thou Sinai's awful flames difplay'd,
And rebels' doom before their confcience laid :
From fin, from felf, from truft in duty fly,
Commit thy naked foul to Chriil, or die.
Go on and profper in the name of God.,
Seraphic preacher, through the thorny road ;
The gracious Ghrift thy labours will reward ,
His angel bands be thy perpetual guard ;
Though hell's dark regions at the prefent hifs,
The God of glory thy ifrong refug;e is.
Mere moral preachers have no pow^r to charm.
Thy lines are fuch my nobler paffions warm ;
Thefe glorious truths have fet my heart on fire*
And while I read, I'm love and pure defire.
May the black train of errors hatch'd in hell
No longer on this globe in quiet dwell ;
May more like you be rais'd to mew their fhame,
And call them by their diabolic name.
Exalt the Lamb in lovely white and red,
Angels and faints his lafting honours fpread ;
My trembling foul mail bear her feeble part,
'Tis he hath charm'd my foul, and w r on my heart*
Blefs'd be the Father for electing love,
Blefs'd be the Son who does my guilt remove*
Blefs'd be the Dove who does his grace apply,
Oh ! may I praifing live, and praifmg die !
SOME ACCOUNT
OF THE
REV. MR. RALPH ERSKINE.
X HE Rev. Mr. Ralph Erskjne was honourably de-
scended of very refpeclable anceftors ; his father, the
Rev. Mr. Henry Erfkine, being one of the thirty-three
children of Ralph Erfkine of Sheffield, a family of con-
siderable repute and ftanding in the county of Merfe,
and originally defcended from the ancient houfe of Mar.
Our author, and his brother, the Rev. Mr. Ebenezer
Erfkine, late mmifter of the gofpel at Stirling, were two
of the children of the faid Rev. Mr. Henry Erikine,
who was fome time miniiter of the gofpel at Cornwall,
afterwards at Chirnfide ;* a man eminent in his day,
and juftly diftinguifhed for his piety and firm attachment
to Prefbyterian principles : for his ftedfaft adherence to
which, he was fubjected to many confider able hardihips
in the latter part of the laft century, during the perfe-
cting period of Charles II. 'and James VII. f
The author of the following Poems, was born at Mo-
nilaws, in the county of Northumberland, on Sabbath
the 15th of March, 1685, at three o'clock in the after-
noon ; and baptized at Chirtifide on the 5th of April
faid year, by the Rev. Mr. William Violand.
He gave pretty early proofs of a great genius and
fine fancy ; and , feveral inftances of a pious difpofition
and a folid way of reflecting on matters. On this ac-
count he was, by his parents, early deftined for the ho-
ly miniftry, who refolved to give him a regular and lib-
eral education, in order to qualify him for that impor-
tant office.
* Carnzvall is in the fhire of Northumberland ; Chirnfide lies
about five miles from Berwick upon Tweed, in the Scots fide.
f See the continuation of Calamy's Life of Baxter, p. 68f .
Some account of the Rtv. Mr. Erjhine. 21
When he had acquired a competent meafure of gram-
mar, and other introductory parts of education, he went
to the univeriity of Edinburgh, to complete his ftudie? ;
where he went through the ordinary courfes of Philofo-
phy and Divinity with fuccefs ; and made a confidera-
ble progrefs in the branches of literature : for he loon
became a fine Grecian, an excellent Logician, and an
accomplifhed Philofopher. But after having acquired
fuch a competent meafure of knowledge, in thefe vari-
ous branches of erudition, he gave himfelf up to the
ftudy of Theology, his darling and beloved topic ; in
which he made great progrefs, as his productions there-
in do abundantly evince.
The ordinary courfe of philofophical and theological
ftudies being gone through, at the college of Edinburgh,
with fuccefs, he was, in the providence of God, called
forth to appear in a public character ; and being well
reported of, by all who knew him, for a converfation be-
coming the gofpel, he was accordingly taken upon tri-
al by the Prefbytery of Dunfermline : and having fm-
ifhed the ufual pieces of trial affigned him, to the entire
fatisfaclion of the Prefbytery, he was by them licenfed.
to preach as a probationer, the everlailing gofpel, on
the 8th of June, 1709. In which capacity, he exercifed
the talents which the Lord had giacioully conferred on
him, within the bounds of the faid Prefbytery, both in
vacancies and fettled congregations, to the great fatis-
fa&ion of his hearers, both minifters and people, as his
certificate from that Prefbytery, dated April 4th, 1711,
expreisly bears. In this ftation of life he did not long
remain : providence foon opened a door for him ; and
he got ail unanimous call from the parifliioners of Dun-
fermline, on the i ft of May 1711, to exereife his rnmif-
terial talents and abilities amongft them ; which call was
approved of by the Prefbytery, on the day following, as
regularly proceeded in. He went through the uiual
pieces of trial, for ordination, prefcribed by the Prefby-
tery, with approbation ; and thereupon they fet him apart
to tbe office of the holy miniftry, in the collegiate charge
of Dunfermline, on Auguft 7, 171 1.
Under the character of a minifter of the gofpel, hav-
ing now a paftoral relation to a particular flock, in the
Some account of the
low any
church univerfal, he " determined not to knov
thing, fave Jefus Chrift and him crucified." He was
"inftant in feafon and cut of feafon," in all parts of his
minifterial labours, and gave himfelf wholly thereunto ;
exhorting the people under his truft, from houfe to houfe,
in the way of family vifitation ; examining them more
publicly upon the principles of our holy religion ; v i fit-
in g the fick when called ; and preaching the everlafting
go/pel, in which he had a very pleaiing and edifying
gift. He preached, by turns, with his colleague every
Sabbath and Thurfday, through the year : and after-
wards, when he had none, for feveral years before his
death, he officiated alone, very punctually both on Sab-
bath and week day.
He delivered few extemporary productions. His fer-
xnons were generally the fruit of diligent ftudy, and af-
fiduous application. For the moil part he wrote all ;
and kept very clofe by his notes in the delivery, except
when the Lord was p]eafed to carry in upon his mind,
in time of preaching, fome pat and appofite enlarge-
ments, whereof he had no previous ftudy, and to which
he neverthelefs cheerfully gave way, as coming from
Him, who has the tongue of the learned ; who knows how
to fpeak a word in feafon to him that is iveary ; and who
fays, " It fhall be given you the fame hour what ye (hall
" fpeak ; for it is not ye that fpeak, but the Spirit of
" your Father that fpeaketh in you." He was blefted
with a rich and fertile invention, as appears in the agree-
able and entertaining diverilty, wherewith his heads of
doctrine are every where adorned. The poetical ge-
nius, with which he was happily endowed, contributed
not a little to the embelliihment of his difcourfes, with
a variety of pertinent epithets and ftriking metaphors.
His gift of preaching was both inftructing and fearch-
ing. Few outfhone him in the nervous and convincing
manner whereby he confirmed the truth of the doctrines
he infilled on ; and fewer dill in the warm and pathet-
ic addrefs, in which he enforced the practice of them.
He peculiarly excelled in the ample and free offers of
Chrifl he made to his hearers ; and the captivating and
alluring methods he ufed, for gaining their compliance,
or their receiving and reft in^ on Chrift alone for their
:
Rev. Mr. Ralph Erjkinc* 23
falvation, as thus freely and fully exhibited unto them
in the gofpel. On all which accounts he was juftly ef,
teemed, and much followed, as one of the moft popular
and edifying preachers of his day. During his time,
facramental folemnities, at Dunfermline, were very
much crowded ; numbers of people, from feveral parts
f the kingdom, reforting unto them : and the Lord was
pleafed to countenance fome of thefe communions, with
fignal evidences of his gracious prefence and influence,
to the fweet and comfortable experience of many.
It will eafily appear to the judicious and experienced
reader, in peruiing his writings, that he had as dexter-
ous a faculty inranfacking the plagues of the heart, and
defcribing the diverfmed circumftances of ferious and
exercifed fouls, as if they had fully communicated their
feveral doubts and cafes unto him ; while, in the mean
time, he was only unfolding the inward experience of
his own foul, what he faimfelf felt of the workings of
unbelief, and of the powerful influence of the Holy Spi-
rit, in oppofkion thereunto ; which could not but qua-
drate, or agree, with the operations of the fell- fame
Spirit of God in others ; for, " as in water, face anfwer-
eth to face, fo doth the heart of man toman."
This eminent fervant of Jefas Cbrift., being exercifed
to godlinefs from his youth, became, by the grace of
God, a M fcribe inftrucced into the kingdom of heaven,"
whom our Lord compares to " an houfeholder, which
bringeth forth out of his treafare, things new and old."
Old invariable truths, but new illuitrations of them ;
old experiences, the fame with other faints before, but
new obfervations and improvements upon them : fo that,
with abundance of propriety, It may be faid, that there
are few perplexing doubts, or intricate cafes, which the
faints have, at any time been exercifed with, that are net
in fome one or other of his fermons, very judicioully
folved, and diftinclly elucidated, or cleared up.
During our author's life time, and at the importunity
of many of his acquaintances, both miniflers and people,
he publifhed a great number of his fermons, on the moft
interefting fubjeccs, which were well reliihed by the tru-
ly godly, and had their praifes in the churches of Chrift,
both at home and abroad. Thefe, with feveral others,
24 Some account of the
tranfcribed from his notes, were firfl: collected together
after his death, and publifhed along with his poems, in
two large volumes in folio, in the years 1764 and 1765,
printed in an elegant manner ; and fince that time, re-
printed in ten large volumes octavo, for the more con-
veniency of readers and purchafers, with coniiderable ad-
ditions and amendments. We cannot difmifs this ac-
count of our - author, without taking notice of another
particular concerning him, which conftitutes a very ma-
terial branch of his character. He was not only deierv^
edly efteemed as a judicious Divine, but alio much ref-
pected as a Poet : and he hath favoured the world with
ieveral excellent productions of that nature, which have
all met with a very favourable reception. His poetical
talent was employed chiefly on divine fubjecls ; he had
no relifh and tafte for any other. In his younger years,
at his leifure hours, he compofed the following piece,
which is now intitled Gofpel Sonnets ; or, Spiritual
Songs, in Six Parts. The ufefulnefs of this poetical com-
pend of the revealed principles of our holy religion, for
promoting the life of faith, comfort, and holinefs, will
be experienced, it is hoped, by many of the faints of God,
to the latefl: posterity. This piece was fo well relifhed,
that it hath undergone a multitude of impre (lions ; and
the demand for it is as great as ever.
About the year 1738, he emitted into the world his
poetical paraphrafe upon the whole book, of the Song of
Solomon ; which indeed is an evangelical comment, done
in a ftrain adapted to the New Teftament difpenfatio:
upon that allegorical or figurative part of holy wrii
This performance has likewife been very acceptable, an<
has undergone a variety t>f editions.
By emitting the above poetical efTays into the world,
and fome fmaller performances, our author's abilities as
a poet came to be known ; and induced the Reverend
Synod of which he was a member, repeatedly to impor-
tune him to employ fome of his vacant hours, in turning
all the poetical paffages of facred writ, into common
metre, of the fame kind with the Pfalms of David.
Thefe recommendations yhe at lafl complied with ; and
Ms- productions made their appearance, under the title
11s
ne
I
Rev. Mr. Ralph Erf/ine. 25
of Scripture Sengs, felected from feveral pailages in the
Old Teftament, which were well relilhed, and have now
undergone feveral editions.
Our author, befides his fermons and poems, publish-
ed feveral tracts, on fome points of controversy, in which
he difplayed his abilities as a writer ; particularly an
elaborate treatife, intitled, Faith no Fancy ; or, A Treailfe
of Mental Images : a book Angularly valuable, for the
clear and perfpicuous manner in which he hath handled
and eftablimed this important point, every way worthy
of our author, and which reflected the higbeft honour
upon him ; in regard it hath given the greateil difplay
of his abilities, both as a divine and philofopher, and how
capable he was to exhanft any point, when he fet him-
felf to it, even in an ab (tract way of reafoning : a book
that effectually filenced all its opponents, and ftand.s to
this day unanswered.
This faithful and laborious fervant of -Jefus Chriit, la- \
boured fuccefsfully in the work of the mini ftry, and con-
tinued publicly ufeful in his "Matter's work, till within
a few days of his departure ; for he preached in his own
pulpit on Sabbath the 29th of October, 1752? and he
"was thereafter feized, in the end of the fame month, viz.
October i752V^ r ith a nervous fever, (wheiein, neverthe-
lefs he enjoyed the exercife of his judgment and fenfes,)
which lafted only for a few days, and at laft was the hap-
py meffenger of freeing him from the incumbrances of
an embodied ftate, and leading him to the world of fpir-
its, and the regions of eternal blifs and felicity ; for, on
the eighth day of the fever, he fell aileep in the Lord*,
being Monday, Nov. 6th, 1752, in the 68th year of his
age, after labouring unweariedly and fuccefsfully in the
. work of the miniftry, among his flock • in Dunfermline,
for the fpace of forty-two years* Mr. Erikine, our wor-
thy author, affords room for large commendations, were
we difpofed to give them ; his complete character is tru-
ly great, and his difpofition exceedingly amiable. If
he is confidered as to his natural endowments, he pof-
feffed many fine qualities ; he had a fweet temper, a
clear head, a rich invention, a lively imagination, and a
great memory. If he is viewed as to his acquired abil-
C
2 5 Some account of the Rev. Mr. Eijline.
iti'es ; he was well acquainted with all the ufeful branch-
es of literature, neceifary to adorn the fcholar and the
minifter. If he is confidered as to his office ; he was a
great and judicious divine, a pious evangelical preacher,
and an able cafuift. In (hort, he was not only a learn-
.ed man, and an able divine, but an affectionate and fa-
miliar friend, a focial companion, a devout Chriftian,
and a burning ai}d fhining light.
By his death, the Church of Chr'ijl loft a great light, a
heroic champion for the truth, and a bold contender for
the faith once delivered unto the faints. The body he was
laft connected with, have been deprived of an ufeful mem-
ber, and a fhining ornament to their caufe. The con-
gregation he laboured among loft an able, faithful min-
ifter, a laborious and fuccefsful wreftler, and a painful
and diligent inftructor. His family and relatives loft a
true friend, an affectionate hufband, a tender hearted pa-
rent and a ftriking pattern of virtue. His acquaintance
and intimates, an endearing brother, a focial companion,
and an engaging friend.
Mr. Erikine was twice married. Hjs firft marriage
was with Margaret Dewar, a daugnter of the Laird of
Laflbdie, which commenced the 15th of July, 17 14.
She lived about fixteen years ; during which time fhe
bore ten children, five fons and five daughters : three
of thefe fons were miiufters in the AiTociation, viz. the
Rev. Meflrs. Henry, John, and James ; the firft ordain-
ed minifter at Falkirk, the fecond at Leilie, and the
third at Stirling. All of them died in the pxime of life,
when they had given the world juft ground to conceive
high expectations of their ufefulnefs in the church. . His
fecond marriage was with Margaret Simpfon, a daugh-
ter of Mr. Simpfon, writer to the ilgnet at Edinburgh,
which took place February 24th, 1732. She bore him
four fons, and iurvived himfelf fome few years. One*
©f the fons of this marriage is ftill in life, and refides at
London. . All his other children are now removed bj
death. ' -
AN ACROSTIC
MUCH fam'd on earth, rev or piety ;
Amidll bright feraphs now Ily.
Sacred thine anthems yield hen
Thefe longs of thine do truly charm the ear.*
Each line thou wrot'ft doth admiration raife ;
Roufe up the foul to true feraphic praife.
Religioufly thy life below was fpent : '
Amazing pleafures now thy foul content.
Long didft thou labour in the church below,
Pointing out Chrift, the Lamb, who faves from w
Heaven's bleflednefs on finners to bellow.
-}
Erskine the great ! whofe pen fpread far abroad
Redeeming loye, the fole device of God ;
Subftantial themes thy thoughts did much purrue ;
Kept pure the truth, efpous'd but by a few.
Integrity of heart, of foul ferene ;
No friend to vice, no cloak to the profane :
Employ'd thy talents to reclaim the vain.
■* Alluding to his poetical pieces*
i
r\
SPEL SONNETS.
PART I.
THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS,
A POEM
Upon Isaiah liv. 5. Thy Maker is thy Hufoand*
PREFACE.
T T
£1 ARK, dying mortal, If the Sennet prove
A long of living and immortal love,
'Tis then thy grand concern the theme to knowy
If life and immortality be fo.
Are eyes to reads or ears to hear a truft ?
Shall both in death be cramrv'a axioA with drift J
Then trifle not to pleafe thine ear and eye,
But read thcu^ bear thrju, for eternity.
Purfue not fbadows wingM, but be thy chafe
-The God ce :
The mi and vain,
That runs : ain.
Thefe humble li ctence»
To pleafe thy ie :
But aim, if W life's thy cl
To clear thy mind, and warm thy heme thro 7 grace,
A marriage fo myh-motis I preelailii,
Betwixt two parties of inch diip rent fame,
That human tongues may bluili their names to tell.
To wit, the Prhice of Ikarfn, the heir of hell i
But, on fb vaft a fuJ^jefc, who can find
Words fuiting the conceptions of his mind ?
Or, if our language with our thought could vie,
What mortal thought can raife itfelf fo hi eh ?
When words and thoughts both fail, may faith and pray'r
Afcend, by climbing up the fcripture ftair :
From facred writ thefe ftrong eipoufals may
Be explicated in the following way.
C2
3 « GOSPEL SONNETS. Part I.
CHAP. I.
A general account of Man's fall in Adam, and
the remedy provided in Chrift : and a par-
ticular account of Man's being naturally wed-
ded to the law, as a covenant of works*
SECT. I. The fall of J Jam.
v_/LD Adam once a heav'n of pleafure found,
While he with perfect innocence was crown'd ;
His wing'd affections to his God could move
111 raptures of defire, and ftrains of love.
Man, ftanding fpotlefs, pure, and innocent,
Could well the law of works with works content ;
Though then, (nor fince,) it could demand no lefs
Than perfonal and perfect righteoufnefs :
Tljefe, unto fmlefs man were eafy terms,
Though now beyond the reach of wither'd arms ;
The legal covenant then upon the field,
Perfection fought, man could perfection yield.
Rich had he, and his progeny, remain'cl,
Had he primeval innocence maintain' d :
His life had been a reft without annoy,
A fcene of biffs, a paradife of joy.
"But fubttle Satan, in the ferpent hid,
Propofing fair the fruit that God forbid,
Man foon feduc'd by hell's alluring art,
Did, difobedient, from the rule depart ;
Devour'd the bait, and, by his bold offence,
Fell from his blifsful ftate of innocence.*
Proftrate, he loft his God, his life, his crown,
From all his glory tumbled headlong down ;
Plung'd in a deep abyfs of fin and wo,
Where, void of heart to will, or hand to do,
For 's own relief he can't command a thought,
The total fum of what he can is nought.
* Gen, ill. 1—6,
Chap. I. THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 31
He's able only now t' increafe his thrall ;
He can deftroy himfelf, and that is all.
Bat can the hellifli brat Heav'n's law fulfil,
Whole precepts high furmount his ftrength and £kill ?
Can filthy drofs produce a goklen beam ?
Or poifcn'd fprings a falutiProus ftream ?
Can carnal minds, fierce enmity's wide maw,
Be duly fubjecl: to the divine law ?
Nay, now its direful threafnings muft take place
On all the difobedient human race,
Who do by guilt Omnipotence provoke,
Obnoxious (land to his uplifted (broke.
They muft ingulph themfelves in endlefs woe?,
Who to the living God are deadly foes ;
Who natively his holy will gainfay,
Muft to his awful juftice fall a prey.
In vain do mankind now expect, in vain
Bv leeal deeds immortal life to ^ain :
Nay, death is threatened, threats muft have their due,
Ox fouls thai Jin mitft diefi as God is true.
SECT. II. _ ReJempft&n through Qhrift*
The fecond Adam, fov 'reign Lord of all,/
Did, by his Father's authorising call,
From bofom of eternal love defcend,
To lave the guilty race that him offend ;
To treat an everlafting peace with thofe
Who were and ever would have been his foes*
His errand, never ending life to give
To them, whofe malice would not let him live ;
To make a match with rebels, and efpoufe
The brat which at his love her fpite avows*
Himfeli he humbled to- deprefs. her pride,
And make his mortal foe his loving bride.
But, ere the marriage can be foiemniz'd,
All lets muft be remov'd, all parties pleas'd.
Law righteoufnefs required, muft be procur'd,
Law vengeance threaten' d, muft be full endur'd,
* £zek, xviii, 4.
I
3» GOSPEL SONNETS. Part I.
Stern juPdce mud have credit by the match,
Sweet mercy by the heart the bride muft catch.
Poor bankrupt I all her debt muft firft be paid,
Her former Imiband in the grave be laid :
Her preient lover muft be at the coPc,
To fave and ranfom to the uttermoit ;
If all thefe things this fuitor kind can do,
Then he may win her, and her ! oo.
Hard terms indeed ! while death's the firft demand j
But love isjlrong as death * and will not ftand
To carry on the fuit, and make it good,
Though at the deareft rate of wounds and blood.
The burden's heavy, but the back is broad,
The glorious lover is the mighty God.f
Kind bowels yearning in th ? eternal Son,
He left his Father's court, his heav'nly throne :
Afide he threw his moft divine arra r,
And wrapt his Go he. _ iii a veil of c
Angelic armies, who in glory crown
With joyful harps his awful throne furrounq,
Down to the cryftal frontier of the fky*£
To fee the Saviour born, did eager fly ;
And e"ver iince behold with wonder ireih
Their Sov'reign and our Saviour wrapt in fleflu
Who in his gaib did mighty love difplay,
Hejioring what. he never took away,§
To God his glory, to the law its due,
To heavui its honour, to the earth its hue,
To man a righteoufnefs divine, complete,
A royal robe to fuit the nuptial rite.
He in her favours, whom he lov'd fo well,
At once did purchafe heav'n, and vanquifh helL
Oh ! unexampled love ! fo vaft, fo ftrong,
So great, fo hrgh, fo deep, fo broad, fo long S
Can finite thought this ocean huge explore,
Unconfcious of a bottom or a more ?
His love admits no parallel ; for why ?
At one great draught of love he drank hell dry,
* Song viii. 6. f Ifa. ix. 6. \ Luke ii. 9—14*
§ Pfalm lxix. 4.
Chap. I. THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 33
b drop of wrathful gall he left behind ;
dreg to witnefs that he was unkind.
he fword of awful juftice pierc'd his fide,
hat mercy thence might gum upon the bride.
The meritorious labours of his life,
And glorious conquefts o£ his dying ftrife ;
Her debt of doing, fufPringj both cancell'd,
I .nd broke the bars his lawful captive held,
own to the ground the hellim heft he threw,
hen mounting high the trump of triumph blew,
.ttended with a bright feraphic band,
Sat down enthron'd fublime on God's right hand ;
Where glorious choirs their various harps employ,
To found his praifes with confed'rate joy.
There he, the bride's flrong interceffor, fits,
And thence the bleffing of his blood tranfmits,
Sprinkling all o'er the flaming throne of Godr,
Pleads for her pardon his atoning blood ;
Sends down his holy co-eternal Dove,
To (hew the wonders of incarnate love,
To woo and win the bride's reluctant heart,
And pierce it with this kinkly killing dart 5
By gofpel light to manifeft that now
She has no further with the law to do ;
That her new Lord has loos'd the fed'ral tie,
That once hard bound her, or to do or die ;
That precepts, threats, no fingle mite can crave.
Thus for her former fpoufe he digg'd a grave ;
The law faft to his crofs did nail and pin,
Then bury'd the defunct his tomb within,
That he the lonely widow to himfelf might win
!
SECT. III. Man's Legal Difpofitwn.
But, after all, the bride's fo mil* content, 1
No argument, fave pow'f, is prevalent >
To bow her will, and gain her heart's confent. J
The glorious , Prince's fuit fhe dtfapproves,
The law, her old primordial hufoand, loves ;
Hopeful in its embraces life to have,
Though dead and bury'd in her fuitor's grave 5
34 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part I,
Unable to give life, as once before ;
Unfit to be a hufband any more^
Yet proudly fhe the new addrefs difdains,
And all the bleft Redeemer's love and pains ;
Though now his head, that cruel thorns did wound,
Is with immortal glory circled round ;
Archangels at his awful footilool bow,
And drawing love fits fmiling oil his brow.
Though down he fends in gofpei tidings good
Epifdes of his love, figird with his blood j
Yet lordly (he the royal fuit rejects,
Eternal life by legal works affects ;
In vain the living feeks among the dead,*
Sues quick'ning comforts in a killing head.
Her dead and bury'd hufband has her heart,
Which can nor death remove, nor life impart.
Thus all-revolting Adam's blinded race
In their firft fpoufe their hope and comfort place,
They natively expect, if guilt them prefs,
Salvation by a home bred righteoufnefs :
They look for favour in Jehovah's eyes,
By careful doing all that in them lies.
*Tis ftill their primary attempt to draw
Their life and comfort from the vet'ran law ;
They flee not to the hope the gofpei gives ;
To truft a promife bare, their minds aggrieves,
Which judge the man that does, the man that f
As native as they draw their vital breath,
Their fond recourfe is to the legal path,
* Why,' fays old nature, in law wedded man,
* Won't Beav'n be pleas'd, if I do all I can ?
* If I conform my walk to nature's light,
' And ftrive, intent to practife what is right,
* Thus won't I by the God of heav'n be biefs'd,
,* And win his favour, if I do my bed ?
' Good God! (he cries) when prefs'd with debt and thrall*
* Have patience with me, and P 11 pay thee <?//.'$
Upon their all, their hejl, they're fondly mad,
Though yet their all is naught, their bejl is bad.
§ Matth. xviii. %L
i-YV ,
■' I
ieves, >
hat lives* J
Chap. I. THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 35
Proud man his can-does mightily exalts,
Yet are his brighteft works but fplendid faults.
A finner may have fhews of good, but dill
The beft he can,<ev'n at his bed, is ill.
Can heav'n or divine favour e'er be wori
By thofe that are a mafs of hell and fife ?
The righteous law does num'rous woes denounce
A^ainft the wretched foul that fails but once :
What heaps of curies on their heads it rears,
That have amafs'd the guilt of num'rous years !
SECT. IV. Man's fritl attachment to legal Terms, or ft
the taw as a condition of life*
Say, on what terms then Heav'n appeas'd will be ?
Why, lure perfedion is the lead degree-
Yea, more, full jktisfaclion mu.il be giv'n
For trefpafs done againft the laws of Heav'n.
Thefe are the terms : what mortal back io broad,
But muft for ever frhk beneath the load ? .
A ranfom mud be found, or die they rnuit,
Sure, ev'n as juftice infinite is juft.
But, fays the legal, proud, felf-righteous heart,
Which cannot with her ancient confort pare,
1 What ! won't the goodnefs of the God of heav'n #
c Admit of fmalls, when greater can't be given ?
* He knows our fall diminifh'd all our funds.
* Won't he accept of pennies now for pounds ?
* Sincere endeavours for perfection take,
* Or terms more poffible for mankind make ?'
Ah I poor divinity, and jargon loofe ;
Such hay and ftraw will never build the houfe,
Miftake not here, proud mortal, don't miftake,
God changes not, nor other terms will make.
Will divine faithfulnefs itfelf deny,
Which fwore folemnly, Man fhall do, or die
Will God moft true extend to us, forfooth,
His goodnefs, to the damage of his truth 2
Will fpotlefs holinefs be baffled thus ?
Or awful juftice be unjuft fe*' us I
36 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part L
Shall faithfulnefs be faithlefs for our fake,
And he his threats, as we his precepts break ?
Will our great Creator deny himfelf ;
And for full payment take our filthy pelf?
Difpenfe with ju (lice, to let mercy vent ?
And (lain his royal crown with 'minifh'd rent ?
Unworthy thought ! O let no mortal clod
Hold fuch bafe notions of a glorious God.
Heaven's holy cov'nant, made for human race,
Confifts, or whole of works or whole of grace.
tx^tvotks will take the field, then works mull be
For ever perfect to the lad degree :
Will God difpenfe with lefs ? Nay, fure he won't
With ragged toll his royal law affront.
Can rag;s, tfcat Sinai flames will foon difpatch,
E'er prove the fiery law's adequate match ?
Vain man mult be divorced, arid choofe to take
Another hufband, or a burning lake.
We find the divine volume no where teach
New legal terms within cur mortal reach.
Some make, though in the facred page unknown,
Sincerity aiTume perfection's throne ;
But who will boalt this bafe ufurper's fway, 1
Save mini iters of darknefs, that difplay >
Invented night, to Rifle fcripture day ? J
The nat'ralift's fmcerity is naught,
That of the gracious is divinely taught ;
Which teaching, keeps their graces, if fmcere,
Within the limits of the gofpel fphere,
Where, vaunting, none created graces fmg,
Nor boaft of ftreams, but of the Lord the fpringo
Sincerity's the foul cf ev'ry grace,
The quality of all the ranfom'd race,
Of pro'rnis'd- favour 'tis a fruit, a claufe ;
But no procuring term, no moving caufe.
How unadvis'd the legal mind confounds
The marls of divine favour with the^ grounds,
And qualities of covenanted friends
W ith the condition of the cov'nant blends ?
Thus holding gofpel truths with legal arms,.
Miftakes new covenant fruits for feu'ral terms,
Chap. I. THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 37
The joyful found no change of terms allows,
But change of perfons, or another fpoufe.
The nature fame that fmn'd mail do or die ;
No milder terms in gbfpel offers lie.
For grace no other law abatement fhews,^
But how law debtors may re (lore its dues ;
Reftore, yea, through a Surety in their place,
With double int'reft, and a better grace.
Here we of no new terms of life are told,
But of a hufband To fulfil the old ;
Witli him alone by faith we're call'd to wed,
And let no rival # brink the marriage ted. [* Enjoy.
.SECT. V. Men's vain attempt to feek Life by ChrfTs
rlghteoufnefs) joined with their own ; and legal hopes not**
ural to all. r
But ftill the bride reluctant difallows
The junior fuit, and hugs the fenior fpoufe.
Such the old felfifh folly of her mind,
Po bent to lick the dud, and grafp the wind,
Alledging works and duties of her own
May for her criminal offence atone ;
She will her antic dirty robe provide,
Which vain fhe hopes will all pollutions hide.
The filthy rags that faints away have flung,
She, holdings wraps, and rolls herfelf in dung ;
Thus maugre all the light the gofpel gives,
Unto her nat'ral confort fondly cleaves.
Though mercy fet the royal match in view,
She's loth to bid her ancient mate adieu.
When light of fcripture, reafon, common fenfe,
Can hardly mortify her vain pretence
To legal righteoufnefs ; yet if at laft
Her confcience rous'd begins to /land aghaft,
Prefs'd with the dread of hell, {he'll rafhly patch,
And halve a bargain with the profer'd match ;
In hopes his help, together with her own,
Will turn to peaceful fmiles the wrathful frown.
Through grace the rifing Sun delightful lings.
With full falvation in his golden wings,
D
i
1
sir own ; >
enthrone ; J
3* ^rU^ri^JLi aUiNiN£,l£>. rART. 1.
And righteoufnefs complete ; the faithlefs foul,
Receiving half the light, rejects the whole ;
Revolves the facred page, but reads purblind
The gofpel meffage with the legal mind.
Men dream their ftate, ah ! too, too flightly view v d,
Needs only be amended, not renew' d ;
Scorn to be wholly debtors unto grace,
Hopeful their works may meliorate their cafe.
They fancy prefent prayers, and future pains
Will for their former failings make amends :
To legal yokes they bow their fervile necks
And, left foul's flips their falfe repofe perplex,
Think Jefus' merits make up all defects.
They patch his glorious robe with filthy rags,
And hum but inccnfe to their proper drags ,
Difdain to ufe his righteoufnefs alone,
But as an aiding ftirr'p to mount the'
Thus in Chr ill's room his rival felf ent
And vainly would, drefs'd up in legal trim,
Divide falvation 'tween themfelves and him.
But know, vain man, that to his fhare mull fall
The glory of the whole, or none at all.
In him all kvifdom's hidden treafur.es lie y \
And all the fulnefs of the Deity.%
This (tore alone, immenfe, and never fpent,
Might poor infolvent debtors well content ;
But to hell-prifon juflly Heaven will doom
Proud fools that on their petty flock prefume.
The fofteft couch that gilded nature knows,
Can give the waken* d confcience no repofe.
When God arraigns, what mortal power can fland
Beneath the terror of his lifted hand !
Our fafety lies beyond the natural line,
Beneath a purple covert all divine.
Yet how is precious Chrift, the way, defpis'd,
And high the way of life by doing priz'd !
But can its vot'ries all its levy ftiow ?
They prize it moft who lead its burden know ;
Who by the law in part would fave his-' foul,
Becomes a debtor to fulfil the whole. §
*Bab.i. 16. f CoLii. 3. fCotiL^ § Gal.
Chap. I. THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS.
3?
Its pris'ner he remains, and without bail,
'Till every mite be paid ; and if he fail,
(As iiire he mail, ilnce, by our iinful breach,
Perfection far furmounts all mortal reach,)
Then curs'd for ever muft his foul remain :
And all the folk of God mnjl fay. Amen.*
Why, feeking that the law mould help afford*
In honouring the law, he flights its Lord,
Who gave his law fulfilling righteoufnefs
To be the naked miner's perfect drefs,
In which he might with fpotlefs beauty mine
Before the face of majefty divine :
Yet, lo ! the finner works with mighty pains
A garment of his own to hide his itains ;
Ungrateful, overlooks the gift of God,
The robe wrought by his hand, d}'d in his blood.
In vain the Son of God this web did weave,
Could our vile rags fufficient fhelter give.
In vain he ev'ry thread of it did draw,
Could finners be o'er mantled by the law.
Can men's falvatioft on their works be built,
Whofe faireft actions nothing are but guilt ^
Or can the law flippreis th' avenging flame,
When now its only ciHce is to damn !
Did life come bj the law in part or whole I
Biefs'd Jelus dy 3 d in vain to fave a foul.
Thofe then who life by legal means expecT,
To them is Chnft become of no effedt ;f
Becaufe their legal mixtures do in fae!
Wifdom's grand project plainly counteract.
How clofe proud carnal reafonings combine, •
To fruftrate fev reign grace's great deilgn ?
Man's heart by nature weds the law alone,
Nor will another paramour enthrone.
True, many feem by courfe of life profane,
No favour for the law to entertain :
Bat break the bands, and call the cords away,
That would their raging lufts and pafHons flay..
Yet ev'n this reigning madnefs may declare,
* I) ait. xxvii. 26.
f Gal. ii. 31, v. 2, 4-
4 o GOSPEL SONNETS. Part I.
ore. >
s in J
How ftriclly wedded to the law they are ;
For now (however rich they feem'd before)
Hopelefs to pay law debt, they give it o'er, [mor
Like defp'rate debtors mad, ftill run themfelve:
Defpair of fuccefs fhews their ftrong defires,
Till legal hopes are parch'd with luftful fires.
4 Let's give, fay they, our lawlefs will free fcope,
* And live at random, for there is no hope.\
The law, that can't them help, they ftab with hate,
Yet fcorn to beg, or court another mate.
Here lufts moil oppofite their hearts divide,
Their beaftly paffion and their bankrupt pride.
In paffion they their native mate deface,
In pride difdain to be oblig'd to grace.
Hence plainly as a rule 'gainft law they live,
Yet cloiely to it as a cov'nant cleave.
Thus legal pride lies hid beneath the patch,
And ftrong averfion to the gofpel match.
CHAP. II.
The manner of a finner's divorce from the law
in a work of humiliation, and of his marriage
to the Lord Jefus Chrift ; or the way how a
linner comes to be a believer.
SECT. I. Of a Law Work, and the workings of legal
pride under it*
uO proud's the bride, fo backwardly difpos'd ;
How then fhall e'er the happy match be clos'd I
Kind grace the tumults of her heart muft quell,
And draw her heaven-ward by the gates of hell,
The Bridegroom's Father makes, by 's holy Sp'rit,
His ftern command with her ftiff confcience meet ;
To dalh her pride, and fhew her utmoft need,
Purfues for double debt with awful dread,
•J- Jer. xviii. 13.
Chap. II. THE BELIEVER'* ESPOUSALS. 41
He makes her former hufband's frightly ghoft
Appear and damn her, as a bankrupt loll ;
With curfes, threats, and Sinai thunder claps*
Her lofcy tow'r of legal boafting laps.
Thefe humbling ftorms, in high or low degrees*
HeavVs Majpfty w31 mealure as he pleaie ;
But ftill he makes the fiery lav/ at leail
Pronounce its awful fentence in her brea ft,
Till through the law* convict of being loft;.
She hopelefs to the law gives up the ghore :
Which now in rigour comes full de'bt to crave
And in clofe prifoii eaft ; but not to fave.
For now 'tis weak, and can't (through our default)
lis qrcateir votaries to life exalt :
Bat well it can command with fire and flame,,
ruin damn,
And
to the
*;to
we
ft pit of
Thus
doth
it,
by
COlliHii]
Deal
..with
:hc
br
id^whe
Lo!
now i
he
iEbi
icl;s at ■
Which thr<
JWS hi
a- foul i
eavhi. would court her love,
the Sinai trump,
into a difmal dump,
Confcious another hufband ihe niuft have,
Elfe die for ever ! 3 grave.
While in conviclioi ^s thus inclos'd,
Glad news are heal royal Mate's proposed.
And now theTcomful bride's inverted ftir ,
Is racking fear, he fcorns to match with her.
She dreads his fury, and defpairs that he
Will ever wed Lb vile a wretch as ihe.
And here the legal humour flirs again
To her prodigious lefs, and grievous pain :
For "when the Prince prefents himfelf to be
Her hufband, then ihe deems : Ah ! is not he
Too fair a march for fuch a filthy bride ?
Unconfcious that the thought bewrays her pride,
Ev'n piide of merit, pride of righteoufnefs,
Expecting Heav'n lhould love her for her drefs ;
Unmindful how the fall her face did ftain,
And made her but a black -unlovely fwain ;
Her whole .primeval beauty quite defae'd,
* Gal ii. 19.
D 2
4 2 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part I.
And to the rank of fiends her form dcbns'd ;
Without disfigured, and defil'd within,
Incapable of any thing but fin.
Heav'n courts not any for their comely face,
But for the glorious praife of fov'reign grace
Elfe ne'er had courted one of Adam's race,
Which all as children of corruption be
Heirs rightful of immortal mifery.
Yet here the bride employs her foolifh wit,
For this bright match her ugly form to fit ;
To daub her features o'er with legal paint,
That with a grace fhe may herfelf prefent.
Hopeful the Prince with credit might her wed,
If once fome comely qualities fhe had.
In humble pride, her haughty fpirit flags ;
She cannot think of coming all in rags.
Were fhe a humble, faithful penitent,
She dreams he'd then contract with full content.
Bafe varlet ! think fhe'd be a match for him,
Did fhe but deck herfelf in handfome trim.
Ah ! foolifh thoughts ! in legal deeps that plod,
Ah ! forry notions of a fov'reign God !
Will God expofe his great, his glorious Son,
For our vile baggage to be fold and wen ?
Should finful modefty the match decline,
Until its garb be brifk and fuperfine ;
Alas ! when fhould we fee the marriage day ?
The happy bargain mint flee up for ay.
Prefumptuous fouls in furly modefly,
Half faviours themfelves would fondly be,
Then, hopeful th' other half their due will fall,
Difdain to be in Jefus' debt for all.
Vainly the firfl: would wafh themfelves, and then.
Addrefs the fountain to be wafh'd more clean
Firft heal themfelves, and then expect the balm :
Ah ! many flightly cure their fudden qualm.
They heal their confeience with a tear of pray'r ;
And feek no other Chrift, but perifh there.
O finner ! fearch the houfe, and fee the thief
That fpoils thy Saviour's crown, thy foul's relief,
The hid, but heinous fin of Unbelief.
!
I
I
-/ . _ • ■_■ . , • - "•. -,<: - : . •
Cha?. II. THE BELIEVERS ESPOUSALS. 43
»Who can poffefs a quality that's -good,
Till firfl: he come to Jefus' cleanfmg blood ?
The pow'r that draws the bride, will alfo fhew
Unto her by the way her hellifh hue,
As void of ev'ry virtue to commend,
And full of ev'ry vice that will offend,
'Till fov'reign grace the fullen bride fhall catch.
She'll never fit herfelf for fuch a match.
Mo ft qualify' d chey are in heav'n to dwell,
Who fee themfelves moil qualify'd for hell ;
And, ere the bride can drink falvation's cup,
Kind Heav'n mull reach to hell and lift her up :
For no decorum e'er about her found,
Is (he belovM ; but on a nobler ground.
Jehovah's love is like his nature free,
Nor muft his creature challenge his decree;
But low at fov'reign grace's footflool creep,
Whofe ways are fearchlefs, and his judgments deep*
Yet Grace's iuit meets with refiilance rude
From haughty fouls 3 for lake of innate good
To recommend them. Thus the backward bride
Affronts her fuitor with her modeft pride*
Black hatred for his offered love repays,
Pride under mafk of modeily diiplays :
In part would fave herfelf^ hence faucy foul !
Rejects the matchlefs Mate would fave in whole.
SECT. II. CotmlBlon of Sin and tt r raih> carried on more
deeply and effectually on the Heart.
So proudly forward is the bride, and now
Stern Heav'n begins to ffare with cloudier brow j
Law curfes come with more condemning pow'r "
To fcorch her confeience with a fiery fhow'r.
And more refulgent flafhes darted in ;
For by the law the knowledge is ofJin. %
Black Sinai thund'ring louder than before,
Does awful in her lofty bofom roar.
Heav'n' s furious ftorms now rife from ev'ry airth,f
In ways more terrible tojloahe the earthy
* Rom. iii. ao. f Wind, or quarter. \ Ifa. \L !*> 19.
,}
44 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part I.
Till haughtinefs of men be funh thereby ,
That Chrijl alone may he exalted high.
Now ftable earth feems from her centre toft,
And lofty mountains in the ocean loft.
Hard rocks of flint and haughty hills of pride,
Are torn in pieces by the roaring tide.
Each flafli of new conviction's lucid rays
Heart-errors, undiicerned till now, difplays :
Wrath's mafTy cloud upon the confcience breaks,
And thus menacing Heaven, in thunder f peaks ;
? Elack wretch, thou madly under foot haft trod
f T*h' authority of a commanding God ;
* Thou, like thy kindred that in Adam fell,
* Art but a law-reverfing lump of hell,
* And there by law and juftice dcom'd to dwell. :
Now, now, the daunted br r ide her 3: ate bewails,
And downward furls her felf-exalting fails ;
With pungent fear, and piercing terror brought
To mortify her lofty legal thought.
Why, the commandment comes, Jin is r&oWd'f*
That lay fo hid, while to the law fhe liv'd ;
Infinite majeity in God is leea ;
And infinite malignity in fin ;
That to its expiation muil amount
A facriiice. of infinite account,
Juftice its dire feverity difplays,
The law its vaft dimensions open lays.
She fees for this broad ftandard nothing meet,
Save an obedience finlefs and complete.
Pier cobweb nghteoumefs, once in renown,
Is with a ii&fpy vengeance now fwept down.
She who of daily faults could once but prate,
Sees now her finful, miferable ftate.
Her heart, where once fae thought fome good to dwell,
The devil's cab'net filled with tram of hell.
Her boafted feature now unmafked bare,
Her vaunted hopes are plunged in deep defpair.
Her haunted fhelter-houfe in bypaft years
Comes tumbling down about her frighted ears.
* Rom. vii. 9.
I
:hap. II. THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 45
er former rotten faith, love, penitence,
he fees a bowing f ivall^ and tot? ring fence,
xcellencies of thought, and word, and deed,
All fwimming, drowning in a lea of dread,
Her beauty now deformity flie deems,
Her heart much blacker than the devil's feems ;
With ready lips fhe can herfelf declare
The vileft ever breath'd in vital air.
er former hopes, as refuges of lies,
re fwept away, and all her boafting dies.
She once imagin'd Heaven would be unjuft;
To damn fo many lumps of human duft,
Form'd by himfelf ; but now me owns it true,
Damnation furely is the fmner's due :
Yea, now applauds the law's juft doom fo well,
That jnftiy Die condemns herfelf to hell ;
Does herein divine equity acquit,
herfelf adjudging to the loweil pit.
er language, ' Oh ! if God condemn, I mull
* From bottom of my foul declare him juft.
I But if his great falvation me embrace,
* How loudly will I fing furprifing grace ! ,
' If from the pit he to the throne me raife,
* I'll rival angels in his endlefs praife.
6 If, hell-defer ving, me to heaven he bring,
* No heart fo glad, no tongue fo loud mail fing.
* If wifdom has not laid the faving plan,
I I nothing have to claim, I nothing can.
* My works but fin, my merit death I fee ;
' Oh ! mercy, mercy, mercy ! pity me.'
Thus all felf-juftifying pleas are dropp'd,
Mod guilty fhe becomes, her mouth is ftopp'd.
Pungent remorfe does her paft conduct blame,
And flum her confcious cheek with fpreading fliame.
Her felf-conceited heart is felf-convic~t,
With barbed arrows of compunction pricked :
Wonders how juftice fpares her vital breath,
How patient Heaven adjourns the day of wrath ;
How pliant earth does not. with open jaws
Devour her, Koran-like, for equal caufe ;
How yawning hell, that gapes for fuch a prey,
46 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part L
. Is fruftrate with a further hour's delay.
She that could once her mighty works exalt,
And boaft devotion franr d without a fault,
Extol her nat'ral powers, is now brought down,
Her former madnefs, not her powers, to own.
Her prefent beggar'd itate, mod void of grace,
Unable even to wail her woful cafe,
Quite powerlefs to believe, repent, or pray \
Thus pride of duties Hies and dies away.
She, like a hardened wrench, a fhipid ftone,
Lies in the duit, and cries, Undone, undone.
SECT. III. The deeply humaled foul relieved nvlth fame
J aving difcoveries of Chrijl the Redeemer.
When thus the w r ounded bride perceives full well,
Herfelf the vileft fmner out of hell,
The blackeit monfte raiverfe ;
Penfive, if clouds of 1 e'er difperfe ;•
When in hei breaft Heaven s wrath fo fiercely, glow?,
'Twixt fear and guilt lier bones have no repole.
When flowing billows . ig dread
Swell to a irking head;
When nothing in her heart Is found io dwell,
But. horrid atherirn, enmity, and hell ;
When endlefs death and rain feems at hand,
And yet fhe cannot, for her foul, command
&Jgh to eafe it, or a gracious thought ,
Though heaven could at this petty rate be bought j
When darknefs and confufion overcloud,
And unto black- defpair temptations crowd ;
When wholly without lirength to move or ftir,
And not a ftar by night appears to her :
But fhe, while to the brim her troubles flow,
Stands, trembling, on the utmoft brink of woe.
Ah ! weary cafe ! But, lo ! in this fad plight,,
The fun aiiies With lurprifing light.
The darkeit midnight is his uiual time
Of rifing, and appearing in his prime*
To mew the hills from whence falvation fprings,
And chaie the gloomy fhade with golden wings*
c
hap. II. THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 47
jafche 'glorious hufband now unvails his face,
Mjknd iliews his glory full of truth and grace .•*
■Prefents unto the bride. In that dark hour,
Himfelf a Saviour, both by price and power:
A mighty Helper to redeem the loft,
Relieve and ranfom to the uttermoft ;f
To feek the vagrant fheep to deferts driven,
And fave from I o weft hell to higlieft heaven.
Her doleful caie he fees, his bowels move,
And make her time of need his time of love ;|
He iliews, to prove himfelf her mighty fliield,
His name is Jesus, by his Father feal'd :§
A name with attributes engrav'd within,
To fave from ev'ry attribute of fin.
With wifdom fin's great folly to expofe,
And righteoufnefs its chain of guilt to loofe,
SantJi/ication to fob due its f way 9
Redemption all its woful brood to flay.j)
Each golden letter of his glorious name
Bears full deliv'rance both from fin and fbame.
Yea, not privation bare from fin and wo,
But thence all pofitive falvations Sow,
To make her wife,jujt, holy, happy too.
He now appears a match exactly meet
To make her ev'ry way In him complete.
In whom the fulnefs of the Godhead dwells ^
That me may boaft in him, and nothing elfe.
In gofpel lines ike now perceives the dawn
Of Jefus' love, with bloody pencil drawn ;
How God in him is infinitely pleas'd,
And Heav'n avenging fury wholly appeas'd :
Law precepts magnify' d by her belov'd,
And ev'ry let to flop the match remov'd.
Now in her view her prifon gates break ope,
Wide to the wall flies up the door of hope ;
And now ilie fees with pleafure unexprefs'd,
For ihatter'd barks a happy more of reft.
* John i. 14. f Heb. vii. %$. \ Ezek. xvi. 6, §.
§ Mittk $. ax, j| 1 Cor, i. 30. J Col ii. 9, 10.
UJUC
i
4 S GOSPEL SONNETS. Part I.
SECT. IV. The working of the Spirit of Faith, in frpar at- \
ing the heart from all felfrighteoufnefs, and drawing out
its confent to, and defire after Chrijl alone and wholly.
The bride at Sinai little underftood
How thefe law humblings were defign'd for good,
T' enhance the value of her Hu (band's blood.
The tow'r of tott'ring pride thus batter'd down,
Makes way for Chrift alone to wear the crown.
Convi&ion's arrows pierc'd her heart, that fo
The blood from his pierc'd heart, to her's might flow,
The law's fharp plough tears up the fallow ground,
Where not a grain of grace was to be found,
Till ftraight perhaps behind the plough is fown
The hidden feed of faith, as yet unknown.
Hence now the once reluctant bride's inclin'd
To give the gofpel an affenting mind,
Difpos'd to take, would grace the. pow'r impart,
Heav'n's offer with a free confenting heart.
His Spirit in the gofpel chariot rides,
And fnews his loving heart to draw the bride's ;
Though oft in clouds hia drawing pow'r he hides.
His love in gracious offers to her bears,
In kindly aniwers to her doubts and fears;
Refolving all objections more or lefs
From former fins, or prefent worthlerThefs.
Perfuades her mind of 's conjugal confent,
And then impow'rs her heart to fay, Content.
Content to be divorced from the law,
No more the yoke of legal terms to draw ;
Content that he diffolve trie former match,
And to himfelf alone her heat t attach ;
Content to join with Chrift at any rate,
And wed him as her everlafting mate ;
Content that he fhould ever wear the bays,
And of her whole falvation have the praife ;
Content that he fhould rife, though Hie fhould fall,
And to be nothing, that he may be all ;
Content that he, becaufe flie nought could do,
Do for her all her work, and in her too.
i
i
Chap. II. THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 49
Here flie a peremptory mind difplays,
That he do all the work, get all the praife.
And now flie is, which ne'er till now took place,
Content entirely- to be fiav'd by grace.
She owns that her damnation jufl would be,
And therefore her falvation mud be free :
That nothing being her's but fin and thrall,
She muft be debtor unto grace for all.
Hence comes flie to him in her naked cafe,
To be invefted with his righteoufnefs.
She comes, as guilty, to a pardon free ;
As vile and jSfrAy, to a cleanfing fea :
As poor and empty, to the richeft flock ;
As weak and feeble, to the ftrongeft rock ;
As perifliing, unto a fhield from thrall ;
As worfe than nothing, to an all. in all.
She, as a blinded mole, an ign'rant fool,
Comes for inftruction to the Prophet's fchooL
She, with a hell deferving confcious bread,
Flies for atonement to the worthy Pr'iejl.
She as a Have to fin and Satan, wings
Her flight for help unto the King of kings.
She all her maladies and plagues brings forth
To this Phyfician of eternal worth.
She fpreads before his throne her filthy fore ;
And lays her broken bones down at his door.
No mite flie has to buy a crumb of blifs,
And therefore comes impov'rifli'd as flie is.
But fin and Satan, of all good bereft,
Comes e'en as bare as they her foul have left.
To fenfe, as free of holinefs within,
As Chrift, the fpotlefs Lamb, was free of fin.
She comes by faith, true ; but it fliews her want,
And brings her as a finner, not a faint ;
A wretched finner, flying for her good
To juftifying, fan&ifying blood.
Strong faith no ftrength, nor pow'r of acling, vaunts,
But ads in fenfe of weaknefs and of wants.
Drain* d now of ev'ry thing that men may call
Terms and conditions of relief from thrall ;
Except this one, that Jefus be her all.
E
1
56 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part I.
When to the bride he gives efpoufmg faith,
It finds her under fin, and guilt, and wrath,
And makes her as a plagued wretch to fall
At Jems' footftool for the cure of all.
Her whole falvation now in him fhe feeks,
And mufing thus perhaps in fecret fpeaks :
* Lo ! all my burdens may in him be eas'd ;
* The juftice I offended he has pleas'd ;
' The blifs that I have forfeit he procur'd 5
* The curfe that I deferved he endur'd ;
* The law that 1 have broken he obey'd ;
* The debt that I contracted he has paid :
* And though a match unfit for him I be,
' I find him ev'ry way moil fit for me.
* Sweet Lord, I think, would thou thyfelf impart,
* Pd welcome thee with open hand and heart.
c But thou that iav'ft by price, rnuft fave by pow'r ;
1 O fend thy Spirit in a fiery fhow'r,
' This cold and frozen heart of mine to thaw,
•' That nought, fave cords of burning love, can draw,
* O draw me, Lord, then will I run to thee,
* And glad into thy glowing bofom flee.
' I own myfelf a mafs of fin and hell,
f A brat that can do nothing but rebel :
4 But didft thou not, as facred pages mew,*
* When riling up to fpoil the hellim crew,
* That had by thoufands, fmners captive made,
* And hadfl in conqu'ring chains them captive led,
€ Get donatives, not for thy proper gain,
* But royal bounties for rebellious men,
« Gifts, graces, and the Spirit without bounds,
c For God's new houfe with man on firmer grounds ?
' O then let me a rebel now come fpeed,
* Thy holy Spirit is the gift I need.
* His precious graces too, the glorious grant,
* Thou kindly promis'd, and I greatly want.
* Thou art exalted to the higheft place,
* To give repentance forth, and ev'ry grace. \
* P/alm xviii. 18. f Ads v. 31.
Chap. II. THE BELIEVERS ESPOUSALS, 51
* O giver of fpiritual life and breatli,
* The author and thejixi/her of faith ;J
* Thou hufband-like muft ev'ry thing provide,
* If e'er the like of me become why bride.'
SECT. V. Faith* s view of the Freedom of Grace, cordial
renunciation of all its own ragged righteoufnefs ■, and formal
acceptance of and clofmg with the perfon of glorious Chrijl,
The bride with open eyes, that once were dim,
Sees now her whole falvation lies in him ;
The Prince, who is not in difpenfing nice,
But freely gives without her pains or price.
This magnifies the Wonder in her eye,
Who not a farthing has wherewith to buy y
For now her humbled mind can difavow
Her boafted beauty and a/fuming brow ;
With confcious eye difcern her emptinefs,
With candid lips her poverty confefs.
* O glory to the Lord, that grace is free,
* Elfe never would it light on guilty me.
' I nothing have with me to be its price,
' But Iiellifh blacknefs, enmity, and vice/
In former times fhe durit prefuming come
To grace's market with a petty fum
Of duties, prayers, tears, a boafted £et>
Expe&ing Heav'n would thus be in her debt.
Thefe were the price ; at lead fhe did fuppofe
She'd be the welcomer becaufe of -thole :
But now Ihe fees the vilenefs of her vogue,
The dung that clofe doth ev'ry duty clog ;
The fin that doth her holinefs reprove,
The enmity that clofe attends her love ;
The great heart hardnefs of her penitence,
The ftupid dulnefs of her vaunted fenfe ;
The unbelief of former blazed faith,
Tlie utter nothingnefs of all fhe hath.
The blacknefs of her beauty fhe can fee,
The pompous pride of itrain'd humility*
I Hc-b. *ii. 2.
S 2 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part I.
The naughtinefs of all her tears and pray'rs,
And now renounces all as worthlefs wares ;
And rinding nothing to commend herfe'
But what might damn her, her embezzled pelf:
At fov'reign Grace's feet doth proftrate fall,
Content to be in Jems' debt for all.
Her no'ifed virtues vanifh out of fight,
As fcarry tapers at meridian light ;
While fweetly, humbly, fhe beholds at length
Chrift, as her only righteoufnefs and ftrength.
He with the view throws down his loving dart,
Impreft with power into her tender heart.
The deeper that the law's fierce dart was thrown,
The deeper now the dart of love goes down :
Hence, fweetly pain'd, her cries to heav'n do flee ;
O none but Jefus, none but Chrift for me :
O glorious Chrift, O beauty, beauty rare,
Ten thoufand thoufand heavens are not fo fair.
In him at once all beauties meet and mine,
The white and ruddy, human and divine.
As in his low, he's in his high abode,
The brighteft image of the unfeen God. #
How juftly do the harpers fing above,
His doing, dying, rifing, reigning love !
How juftly does he, when his work is done,
Poffefs the centre of his Father's throne ?
How juftly does his awful throne before
Seraphic armies proftrate him adore,
That's both by nature and donation crown'd,
With all the grandeur of the Godhead round ?
< But wilt thou, Lord, in very deed come dwell
With me, that was a burning brand of hell i
With me fo juftly reckoned worfe and lefs
Than infect, mite, or atom can expreis ?
Wilt thou debafe thy high imperial form,
To match with fuch a mortal, crawling worm ?
Yea, fure thine errand to our earthly coaft,
Was in deep love to feel andfave'the loft ;f
And fince thou deign'ft die like of me to wed,
■ Heb. i. 3. \ fcuktf xix* 1 a.
Chap. III. THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 53
* O come and make my heart thy marriage bed,
* Fair jefus, wilt thou marry filthy me 1
* Amen, amen, amen ; fo let it be.
CHAP. III.
The Fruits of the Believer's Marriage with
Chrift, particularly gofpel holinefs, and obe-
dience to the law as a rule.
SECT. I. The fweet folemniiy of the Marriage noiv c&er 9
and ih? fad Efccls of the remains, of a kgal^Spirit*
i HE match is made, with little din 'tis done, .
But with great power, unequal prizes won.
The Lamb has fairly won his worthlefs bride ;
She her great Lord, and all his ftore befide.
He made the pooreit bargain, thou mod wife ;
And the, the fool, has won the worthy prize.
Deep floods of everlafting love and grace,
That under ground ran an eternal fpace,
Now rife aloft 'hove banks of fin and hell,
And o'er the tops of many mountains fwell.
In ftreams of blood are towers of guilt o'erflown,
Down with the rapid purple current thrown.
The bride now as her all can Jefus own,
And pro (Irate at his footftool caft her crown,
Difciaiming all her former groundlefs hope,
While in the dark her foul did weary grope.
Down tumble all the hills of felf-ccnceit,
In him alone fhe fees herfelf complete ;
Does his fair perfon with fond arms embrace,
And all her hopes on his full merit place ;
Difcard her former mate, and henceforth draw
No hope, no expectation from the law.
Though thus her new created nature foars*
And lives aloft on Jefus' heavenly ftores ;
Yet apt to ftray, her old adult'rous heart
Oft takes her old renounced bufband's part 1
e 2
I
}
54 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part I.
A legal covenant is fo deep ingrain'd,
Upon the human nature, laps'd and ftain'd,
That) till her fpirit mount the pureft clime,
She's never totally divorc'd in time.
Hid in her corrupt part's proud bofom lurks
Some hope of life (till by the law of works
Hence flow the following evils more or lefs ;
Preferring oft her partial holy drefs,
Before her Husband's perfecl: righteoufnefs.
Hence joying more in grace already given
Than in her Head and flock that's all in heaven.
Hence grieving more the want of frames and grace,
Than of himfUf the fpring of all folace.
Hence guilt her foul imprifons, lulls prevail,
"While to the law her rents infolvent fail,
And yet her faithlefs heart rejecls her hufband's bail
Hence foul diforders rife, and racking fears,
While doubtful of his clearing paft arrears ;
Vain dreaming, fmce her own obedience fails,
His like wife little for her help avails.
Hence duties are a tafk, while all in view
Is heavy yokes of laws, or old or new :
Whereas, were once her legal- bias broke,
She'd find her Lord's commands an eafy yoke,
No galling precepts on her neck he lays,
Nor any debt demands, fave what he pays
By promis'd aid ; but, lo ! the grievous law,
Demanding brick, won't aid her with a ftraw.
Hence alfo fretful, grudging, difcontent,
Crav'd by the law, finding her treafure fpent,
And doubting if her Lord will pay the rent.
Hence pride of duties too does often fvvell,
, Presuming fhe perform'd fo very well.
Hence pride of graces and inherent worth
Springs from her corrupt legal bias forth ;
And boafling more a prefent with'ring frame,
Than her exalted Lord's unfading name.
Hence many falls and plunges in the mire,
As many new converfions do require :
Becaufe her faithlefs heart fad/follies breed,
Much lewd departure from her living Head,
i
:hap. III. THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. $5.
fho, to reprove her aggravated crimes,
weaves her abandon' d to herfelf at times ;
That, falling into frightful deeps, fhe may
From fad experience learn more ftrefs to lay,
Not on her native efforts, but at length
On Chrift alone, her righteoufnefs and ftrength :
Confcious, while in her works me feeks repofe,
Her legal fpirit breeds her many woes.
SECT. II. Faith's viclories over Jin and Satan f through-
new and farther difcoveries of Chrift) making Believers
more fruitful in holinefs than all other pretenders to works*
The -ofpel path leads heaven ward ; hence the fray,.
Hell's p ^wers frill pufh the bride the legal way.
So hot the war, her life's a troubled flood,
A field of battle, and a fcene of blood.
But he that once commenc'd the work in her,
Whofe working fingers drop the fweeteft myrrh,
Will ftill, advance it by alluring force,
And, from her ancient mate, more clean divorce :
Since 'tis her antiquated fpoufe the law,
The ftrength of fin and hell did on her draw.
Piece-meal fhe finds hell's mighty force abate,
By new recruits from her almighty Mate.
Frefh armour fent from Grace's magazine,
Makes her proclaim eternal war with fin;
The fhield of faith, dipt in the Surety's blood,
Drowns fiery darts, as in a crimfon flood.
The Captain's ruddy banner, lifted high,
Makes hellretire, and all the furies fly.
Yea, of his glory every recent glance
Makes fin decay, and holinefs advance.
In kindnefs therefore does her heav'nly Lord
Renew'd difcov'ries of his love afford,
That her enamour'd foul may, with the view,
Be caft into his holy mould anew :
For when he manifefts his glorious grace,
The charming favour of his fmiling face,
Into his image fair transforms her foul,*
* % Cor, Hi. 18.
!
5 6 GOSPEL SONNETS. Pas
And wafts her upwards to the heav'nty pole,
From glory unto glory by degrees,
Till viiion and fruition fhall fuflice.
And thus in holy beauty Jefus' bride
Shines far beyond the painted fons of pride,
Vain merit vouchers, and their fubtle apes,
In all their moil refin'd, delufive fhapes.
No lawful child is ere the marriage born ;
Though therefore virtues feign'd their life adorn.
The fruit they bear is but a ipurious brood,
Before this happy marriage be made good.
And 'tis not ftrange ; for, from a corrupt tree
"No fruit divinely good produc' d can be,\
But, lo ! the bride, graft in the living Root,
Brings forth moil precious aromatic fruit.
When her new heart and her new Hufband meet,
Her fruitful womb is like a heap of wheat,
Befet with fragrant lillies round abput,{
All divine graces, in a comely rout,
Burning within, and mining bright without.
And thus the bride, as facred fcipture faith,
When dead unto the law through Jefus' death,
And match'd with him, bears to her God and Lord
Accepted fruit, with incenfe pure decor'd.
Freed from law debt, and blefs'd with gofpel eafe*
Her work is now her deareil Lord to pleafe,.
By living, on him as her ample ftock,
And leaning to him as her potent rock.
The fruit, that each law v/edded mortal brings
To felf accrefces, as from felf it fprings.
So bafe a rife mull have a bafe recourfe,
The ilream can mount no higher than its fource.
But Jefus can his bride's, fweet fruit commend,
As brought from him the root, to him the end.
She does by fuch an offspring him avow
To be her Alpha and Omega too.
The w r ork and warfare he begins, he crowns,
Though maugre various conflicts, ups and downs.
Thus thro' the darkfome vale fhe makes her way,
Until the morning dawn of glory's day.
f Matt. vii. 17, 18. \ Cant. vii. 2. § Rom,
Chap. III. THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 57
SECT. III. True Javing Faith magnifying the Law both
as a covenant and as a rule* Faife faith unfruitful and
ruining*
Proud nature may reject this gofpel theme,
And curfe it as an Antinomian fcheme.
Let flander bark, let envy grin and fight,
The curfe that is fo caufelefs fhall not light,*
If they that fain would make by holy force
'Twixt finners and^the law a clean divorce,
And court the Lamb a virgin chafte to wife,
Be charg'd as foes to holinefs of life,
Well may they gladly fuifer on this fcore,
Apoflles great were fo malign'd before.
Do we mahe 'void the law through faith ?\ Nay, why,
We do it more fulfil and magnify
Than fiery feraphs can with holiefl flafh ;
Avaunt, vain legalifls, unworthy trafh.
When as a cov'nant ftern the law commands,
Faith puts her Lamb's obedience in its hands ;
And when its threats gufli out a fiery flood,
Faith flops the current with her victim's blood.
The law can crave no more, yet craves no lefs,
Than active, paffive, perfect righteoufnefs.
Yet here is all, yea, more than its demand,
All rendered to it by a divine hand.
Mankind is bound law fervice ftill to pay,
Yea, angel kind is alfo bound t' obey.
It may by human and angelic blaze
Have honour, but in finite partial ways.
Thefe natures have its luflre once defac'd,
'Twill be by part of both for ay difgrac'd,
Yet, had they all obfequious flood and true,
They'd giv'n the law no more than homage due.
But faith gives 't honour yet more great, more odd?
The high, the humble iervice of its God.
Again, to view the holy law's command,
As lodged in a Mediator's hand ;
* Prov. xxvi. a. f Rom. iii. tl.
58 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part I.
Faith gives it honour, as a rule of life.
And makes the bride the Lamb's obedient wife.
Due homage to the law thofe never did,
To whom th' obedience pure of faith is hid,
Faith works by love^ and purifies the heart, f
And truth advances in the inward part ;
On carnal hearts impreffes divine ftamps,
And fully 'd lives inverts to mining lamps.
From Abram's feed that are mofe ftrong in faith,
The law mofl honour, God moft glory hath.
But due refpecl to neither can be found,
Where unbelief ne'er got a mortal wound,
To ftill the virtue vaunter's empty found.
Good works he boafts, a path he never trode
Who is not yet the worhnanjhip of God 7 \
In jfefus thereunto created new ;
Ncis'd works that fpring not hence are but a mew*
True faith that's of a noble divine race,
Is ftill a holy falsifying grace :
And greater honour to the law does (hare,
Than boafters all that breathe the vital air.
Ev'n heathen morals vaftly may outfhine
The works that flow not from a faith divine.
Pretentions high to faith a number have,
But, ah ! it is a faith that cannot fave :
We truft, fay they, in Chrift, we hope in God
Nor blufh to blaze their rotten faith abroad.
Nor try the truft of which they make a fhew,
If of a faving or a damning hue.
They own their fins are ill ; true, but 'tis fad
They never thought their faith and hope were ba<
How evident's their home-bred nat'ral blaze,
Who dream they have believ'd well all their days %
Yet never felt their unbelief, nor knew
Their need of pow'r their nature to renew.
Blind fouls, who boaft of faith, yet live in fin,
May hence conclude their faith is to begin.
Or know they mail, by fuch an airy faith,
Believe themfelves to everlafting wrath*
* Enh, ii. 10. f Gal. v. 9, f.Eph. iii.
Chap. III. THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 59
Faith, that nor leads to good, nor keeps from ill,
Will never lead to heaven, nor keep from hell.
The body without breath is dead ;* no lefs
Is faith without the works cf holmefs.$
How rare is faving faith, when earth is cramm'd
With fiich as will believe, and yet be damn'd ;
Believe the gofpel, yet with dread and awe
Have never truly firfl believ'd the law.
That matters fliall be well, they hope too foon
Who never yet have feen they were undone.
Can of falvation their belief be true,
Who never yet believ'd damnation due ?
Can thefe of endlefs life have folid faith
Who never fear'd law threats of endlefs death ?
Nay, fail'd they han't yet to the healing fhore,
Who never felt their fmful, woful fore.
Imaginary faith is but a blind
Which bears no fruit but of a deadly kind :
Nor can from fuch a wild unwholefome root
The lead production rife of living fruit.
But faving faith can fuch an offspring breed,
Her native product is a holy feed.
The faireft iffues of the vital breath
Spring from the fertile womb of heav'n-born faith ;
Yet boafts {be nothing of her own, but brings
Auxiliaries from the King of kings,
Who graves his royal law in rocky hearts,
And gracious aid in foft'ning mowers imparts ;
This gives prolific virtue to the faith
Infpir'd at firft by his almighty breath,
Hence, fetching all her fuccours from abroad,
She ftill employs this mighty pow'r of God.
Drain' d clean of native pow'rs and legal aims,
No ftrength but in and from Jehovah claims ;
And thus her fervice to the law o'er tops
The tow'ring zeal of Pharifaic fops.
* James ii. 36. § James ii. 17, 10.
GOSPEL SONNETS. Part I.
SECT. IV. The Believer only being married to Chrijl, is
juftified and fanBijied : and the more go/pel freedom from
the Law as a covenant^ the more holy conformity to it as a
rule*
Thus doth the Hufband by his Father's will
Both for and in his bride the law fulfil :
For her, as 'tis a covenant ; and then
In her, as 'tis a rule of life to men.
Firft, all law debt he moll completely pays,
Then of law duties all the charge defrays.
JDoes firft afutme her guilt, and loofe her chains,
And then w T ith living water wafh her ftains ;
Her fund reftore, and then her form repair,
And make his filthy bride a beauty fair ;
His perfect righteoufnefs moil freely grant, \
And then his holy image deep implant ;
Into her heart his precious feed in drop,
Which, in his time, will yield a glorious crop.
But by alternate turns his plants he brings
Through robbing winters and repairing fprings.
Hence, pining oft, they fuffer'd fad decays,
By dint of fhady nights and ftormy days.
But bleft with £ap, and influence from above^
They live and grow anew in*faith and love ;
Until tranfplanted to the higher foil,
While furies tread no more, nor foxes ipoil.
Where Chrift the living root remains on high,
The noble plant of grace can never die ;
Nature decays, and fo will all the fruit
That merely rifes on a mortal root.
Their works, however fplendid, are but dead,
That from a living fountain don't proceed ;
Their faireft fruit is but a garni (h'd flirine,
That are not grafted in the glorious Vine.
Devouteft hypocrites are rank'd in rolls
Of painted puppets, not of living fouls.
No offspring but of Chrift's fair bride is goo4,
This happy marriage has a holy brood*
Chap. III. THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 61
1
Let finners learn this my fiery to read,
We bear to glorious Chrifl no precious feed,
Till through the law, we to the law be dead J*
No true obedience to the law, but forc'd,
Can any yield, till from the law divorced.
Nor to it, as a rule, is homage giv'n,
Till from it, as a covenant, men be driv'n.
Yea more, till once they this divorce attain,
Divorce from fin they but attempt in vain - 9
The curled yoke of fin they bafely draw,
Till once unyoked from the surfing law.
Sin's full dominion keeps its native place,
While men are under law, not under grace, f
For mighty hills of enmity won't move,
Till touch'd by conqu'ring grace and mighty love
Were but the gofpel fecret underflood ;
How God can pardon where he fees no good ;
How grace and mercy free, that can't be bought,
Reign through a righteoufnefs already wrought :
Where woful reigning unbelief depos'd,
-Myfterious grace to blinded minds difclos'd :
Did Heav'n with gofpel news its pow'r convey,
And finners hear a faithful God but fay.
* No more law debt remains for you to pay ;
? Lo, by the loving Surety all's difcharg'd, '
Their hearts behov'd with love to be enlarged ;
Love, the fuesincl: fulfilling ? of the law,§
Were then the eafy yoke they'd fweetly draw ;
Love would conftrain and to his fervice move,
Who left them nothing elfe to do but love.
Slight now his loving precepts if they can ;
No, no ; his conqu'ring kindnefs leads the van.
When everlafling love exerts the fway,
They judge themfelves more kindly hound t' obey,
Bound by redeeming love in ftricter fenfe
Than ever Adam was in innocence.
Why now they are not bound"; as formerly,
To do and live, nor yet to do or die ;
* Gal ii. 19. f Rom. vi. 14. § Rom. xiii. ja,
F
6z : GOSPEL SONNETS. Part L
Both life and death are put in Jefus' hands,
Who urges neither in his kind commands,
Not fervile work their life and heav'n to win,
Nor flavilh labour death and hell to iliun.
Their aims are purer, fmce they underilood, [blood*
Their heav'n was bought, their hell was quench' d with
The oars of gofpel fervice now they fleer,-
Without or legal hope or flavifh fear.
The bride in fweet fecurity can dwell,
Nor bound to purchafe heav'n, nor vanquifh hell :
But bound for him the race of love to run,
Whofe love to her left none of thefe undone ;
She's bound to be the Lamb's obedient wife,
And in his ftrength to ferve him during life ;
To glorify his loving name for ay,
Who left her not a iingle mite to pay
Of legal debt, but wrote for her at large,
In characters of blood, a full difcharge.
Henceforth no fervile talk her labours prove,
But grateful fruits of reverential love.
SECT. V. Go/pel grace giving no liberty nor freedom to
Jin, but to holy fervice and pure obedience.
The glorious Hufband's love can't lead the wife
To whoredom or licentioufnefs of life :
Nay, nay ; fhe finds his warmed love within
The hotteft fire to melt her heart for fin.
His kind embrace is Rill the ftrongefl cord
To bind her to the fervice of her Lord.
The more her faith infures this love of his,
The more his law her delectation is.
Some dream, they might, who his affurance win,
Take latitude and liberty to fin.
Ah ! fuch bewray their ignorance* and prove
They want the lively fenfe of drawing love ;
And how its fweet conftraining force can move
The ark of grace came never in to dwell,
But Dagon-lufts before it headlong fell.
Men bafely can unto lafcivioufnefs
Abufe the doctrine, not the work of grace.
i
Chap. IV. THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 6 }
Huggers of divine love in vice's path.
Have but the fancy cf it, not. the faith.
They never foar'd aloft on grace *$ vbg.
That knew not grace to be a holy thing :.
When pregnant fhe the powers of hell appals*
And fin's' dominion in the ruin falls.
Curs'd is the crew whofe antinomian drefs
Makes grace a cover to their idlenefs.
The bride of Chrift will fure be very loth
To make his love a pillow for her floth.
Why, mayn't fhe fin the more that grace abounds ?'
Oh, God forbid ! the very thought confounds.
When dead unto the law, fhe's dead to fin ;
How can fhe any longer live therein : %
To neither of them is fhe now a Have,
But fhares the conqueft of the great, the brave,
The mighty General, her victorious Head,
Who broke the double chain to free the bride.
Hence, prompted now with gratitude and love,
Her cheerful feet in fwift obedience move.
More flrong the cords of love to duty draw*
Than hell, and all the curfes of the law.
When with feraphic love the bread's infpir'd.
By that are all the other graces flr'd ;
Thefe kindling round, the burning heart and frame, „
In life and walk fend forth a holy £ame.
CHAP. IV.
A Caution to all againfi a legal fpirit ; efpeci-
ally to thofe that have a prqfeffion without
power, and learning without grace.
VvHY, fays the haughty heart of legalists,
Bound to the law of works by nat'ral twills,
* Why fuch ado about a law-divorce ?
4 Men's lives are bad, and would you have them worfe ?
* Rom. vi. 1,2.
6 4 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part. I.
* Such antinomian fluff, with labour'd toil,
' Would human beauty's native luftre fpoil.
* What wickednefs beneath the covering lurks,
< That lewdly would divorce us all from works I
6 Why fuch a ftir about the law and grace ?
c We know that merit cannot now take place.
* And what needs more ? Well, to let {lander drop,
Be merit for a little kere the fcope.
Ah ! many learn to lifp in gofpel terms,
Who yet embrace the law with legal arms.
By wholefome education fome are taught
To own that human merit now is naught ;
Who faintly but renounce proud merit's name,
And cleave refm'dly to the Popifli fcheme.
For graceful works expecting divine blifs,
And, when they fail, truft Chrift for what's amifs.
Thus to his righteoufnefs profefs to flee,
Yet by it ftill would their own faviours be.
They feem to works of merit bloody foes,
Yet feek falvation as it were* by thofe.
Blind Gentiles found, who did nor feek nor know ;
But Ifrael loft it whole, who fought it fo.
Let all that love to wear die legal drefs,
Know that as fin, fo baftard righteoufnefs
Has flain its thoufands, who in towering pride
The righteoufnefs of Jefus Chrift deride ;
A robe divinely wrought, divinely won,
Yet caft by men for robes that are their own.
But fome to legal works feem whole deny'd,
Yet would by gofpel works be juftify'd,
By faith, repentance, love, and other fuch :
Thefe dreamers being righteous overmuch,
Like Uzza, give the ark a wrongful touch.
By legal deeds, however gofpeliz'd,
Can e'er tremendous juftice be appeas'd,
Or fmners juftify'd before that God,
Whofe law is perfect, and exceeding broad ?
Nay, faith itfelf, that leading gofpel grace*
Holds as a work no juftifying place.
* Rom, ix. 32*
\
I
Heav'n to man for righteoufnefs imputes
Not faith itfelf, or in its acts or fruits ;
But Jefus' meritorious life and death,
Faith? s proper object, all the honour hath.
From this doth faith derive its glorious fame,
Its great renown and juftifying name ;
Receiving all things, but deferving nought ;
By faith all's begg'd and taken, nothing bought,
Its higheit name is from the wedding vote,
So inftrumental in the marriage knot,
Jehovah leads the bride in that bleft hour,
Th* exceeding greatnefs of his mighty ponxfr ;*
Which fweetly does her heart confent command*
To reach the wealthy Prince her naked hand.
For clofe to his embrace fhe'd never ftir,
If nrft his loving arms embrac'd not her :
But this he does by kindly gradual chace,
Of roufmg, raifmg, teaching, drawing grace.
He fliews her, in his fweeteft love addrefs,
His glory as the Sun of righteoufnefs ;
At which all dying glories earth adorn,
Shrink like the fick moon at the wholefome mornv
This glorious Sun ariiing with a grace,
Dark fhades of creature righteoufnefs to chafe,
Faith now difclaims itfelf, and all the train 1
Of virtues formerly accounted gain \ \
And counts them dung^ with holy, meek difdain. J
For now appears the height, the depth immenfe
Of divine bounty and benevolence ;
Amazing mercy ! ignorant of bounds !
Which moft enlarged faculties confounds.
How vain, how void now feem the vulgar charms?
The monarch's pomp of courts, and pride of arms J
The boafted beauties of the human kind,
The pow'rs of body, and the. gifts of mind i
Lo ! in the grandeur of Immanuel's train,
All's fwallowed up as rivers in the main.
He's feen, when gofpel light and fight is giv'n,
Ejicompafs'd round with all the pomp of heav 5 n,
* Eph. vii. 1 6. f PhiLiii. 7, 8.
F 2
66 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part L
The foul, now taught of God, fees human fchools
Make chriftlefs rabbis only lit'rate fools ;
And that, till divine teaching pow'rful draw,
No learning will divorce them from the law.
Mere argument may clear the head, and force
A verbal, not a cordial clean divorce.
Hence many, taught the wholefome terms of art*
Have gofpel heads, but ftill a legal heart.
Till fov'reign grace and pow'r the fmner catch,
He takes not Jefus for his only match.
Nay, works complete ! ah ! true, however odd,
Dead works are rivals with the living God.
Till heav'n's preventing mercy clear the fight,
Confound the pride with fupernat'ral light :
No haughty foul of human kind is brought
To mortify her felf-exalting thought.
Yet holieft creatures in clay tents that lodge,
Ee but their lives fcann'd by the dreadful Judge ;
How fhail they e'er his awful fearch endure,
Before whofe pureft eyes heav'n is not pure ?
How muft their black indictment be enlarg'd,
When by him angels are with folly charg'd ?
What human worth fhall ftand, when he fhall fcan ii
O may his glory ftain the pride of man.
How wond'rous are the tracks of divine grace !
How fearchlefs are his ways, how vaft th' abyfs !
Let haughty reafon ftoop, and fear to leap ;
Angelic plummets cannot found the deep. ,.
With fcorn he turns his eyes from haughty kings,
With pleafure looks on low and worthlefs things ;
Deep are his judgments, fov'reign is his will,
Let ev'ry mortal worm be dumb, be ftill.
In vain proud reafon fwells beyond its bound ;
God and his counfels are a gulph profound,
An ocean wherein all our thoughts are drown'
Ch^V TWE BKTJEVER ? s ESPOUSALS. 69
CHAP. V.
Arguments and Encouragements to Gofpel Min-
ifters to avoid a legal ftrain of Dodrine, and
endeavour the Sinner's match with Chrifl by
Gofpel means.
SECT. I. A legal Spirit the root of damnable Errors*.
Y E heralds-great, that blow in name of God
The filver trump of gofpel grace abroad;
And found by warrant from the great I AM,
The nuptial treaty with the worthy Lamb ;
Might ye but (loop th' unpolihVd mufe to brook,
And from a flirub an wholefome berry pluck
Ye'd take encouragement from what is faid,
By gofpel means to make the marriage bed,
And to your glorious Lord a virgin chafte to wed,
The more proud nature bears a legal fway,
The more mould preachers bend the gofpel way 1
Oft in the church arife deftructive fchifms
From anti-evangelic aphorifms ;
A legal fpirit may be juftly* nam'd
The fertile womb of ev'ry error damn'd.
Hence Pop'ry, fo connat'ral fmce the fall,.
Makes legal works like faviours merit all ;
Yea, more than merit on their fhoulder loads,
To fupererogate like demi-gods.
Hence proud Socinians feat their reafon high ;
^ove ev'ry precious gofpel myftery,
Its divine Author ftab, and without fear
The purple covert of his chariot tear.
With thefe run Arian monfters in a line,.
All gofpel truth at once to undermine !
To darken and delete, like hellifh foes,
The brighteft colour of the Sharon Rofe..
At beft its human red they but decry
That blot the divine white the native dye.
i
66 GOSPEL SONNETS. Jfa £
^ h *Jt*l'™ W taU ^ Ii:s *& with brazen face >
Give Irian's free will the throne of God's free grace j
Whofe felf-exalting tenets clearly fhew
Great ignorance of law and gofpel too.
Hence Neonomians fpring, as fundry call
The new law makers to redrefs our fall.
The law of works, into repentance, faith,
Is chang'd, as their Baxterian Bible faith.
Shaping the gofpel to an eafy law,
They build their tott'ring houfe with hay and ftraw j
Yet hide, like Rachel's idols in the fluff,
Their legal hands within a gofpel muff.
Yea, hence fprings Antinomian vile refufe,
Whofe grofs abettors gofpel grace abufe ;
Unfkill'd how grace's filken latchet binds
Her captives to the law with willing minds.
SECT. II. A legal Jlrain of doBrine clif covered and
difcarded.
No wonder Paul the legal fpirit curfe,
Of fatal errors fuch a feeding nurfe.
He, in Jehovah's great tremendous name,
Condemns perverters of the gofpel fcheme.
He damn'd the fophift rude, the babbling prieft
Would venture to corrupt it in the leaft ;
Yea, curs'd the heavenly angel down to hell
Who, daring, would another gofpel tell.f
Which crime is charg'd on thefe that dare difpenfe
The felf-fame gofpel in another fenfe.
Chrifl is not preach'd in truth but in difguife,
If his bright glory half obfeured lies.
When gofpel foldiers, that divide the word.
Scarce brandifh any but the legal fword ;
While Chrifl the author of the law they prefs,
More than the end of it for righteoufnefs j
Chrifl as a feeker of our fervice trace,
More than a Giver of enabling grace \
The King commanding holinefs they fhow
f GaL i. ft 8.
Chap. V. THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 69
More than the Prince exalted to beftow :
Yea more on Chrift the fin revenger dwell,
Than Chrift Redeemer both from fin and hell,
With legal fpade the gofpel field he delves
Who thus drives finners in unto themfelves ;
Halving the truth, that fliould be all reveaPd,
The fweeteft part of Chrift is oft conceaPd.
We bid men turn from fin, but feldom fay,
* Behold the Lamb that takes all fin away P
Chrift, by the gofpel rightly underftood,
Not only treats a peace, but makes it good.
Thofe fuitors therefore of the bride, who hope
By force to drag her with the legal rope,
Nor ufe the drawing cord of conquering grace,
Purfue with flaming zeal a fruitlefs chace ;
In vain lame doings urge, with folemn awe,
To bribe the fury of the fiery law :
With equal fuccefs to the fool that aims
By paper walls to bound devouring flames.
The law's but mock'd by their moft graceful deed,
Who wed not firft the law-fulfilling Head ;
It values neither how they wrought nor wept
Who flight the ark wherein alone 'tis kept.
Yet legalifts Do, Do, with ardour prefs,
And with prepofterous zeal and warm addrefs
Would feern the greateft friends to holinefs ;
But vainly, could fuch oppofites accord,
Refpedr the law, and yet reject the Lord.
They fhew not Jefus as the way to blifs,
But Judas like, betray him with a kifs
Of boafted works, or mere profeffion puft,
Law-boafters, proving but law-breakers oft,
SECT. III. The hurtfulnefs of not preaching Chrift 9 end
diftinguifhing duly between Law and Gcfpeh
Hell cares not how crude holinefs be prench'd,
If finners match with Chrift be never reach'd ;
Knowing their holinefs is but a fharrj
Who ne'er are married to the Holy Lamb*
Let words have ever fuch a pious (hew,
j
7 o GOSPEL SONNETS. Part L
And blaze aloft in rude profeflbr's view,
With facred aromntics richly fpiced.
If they but drown in filence glorious Chriit »
Or, if he may fome vacant room fupply,
Make him a fubjecl: only by the bye ;
They mar true holinefs with tickling chat,
To breed a baftard pharifaic brat.
They wofully the gofpel meffage broke,
Make fearful havock of the matter's flock ;
Yet pleafe themfelves, and the blind multitude,.
By whom the gofpel' s little under flood.
Rude fouls perhaps imagine little odds
Between the legal and the gofpel roads :
But vainly men attempt to blend the two ;
They differ more than Chrifi: and Mofes doi
Mofes, evangelifTng in a lliade,
By types the news of light approaching fpread :
But from the law of works by him proclaim'd,
No ray of gofpel grace or mercy gleam'd.
By nature's light the law to all is known,
But lightfome news of gofpel grace to none.
The doing covenant now, in part or whole,
Is ftrong to damn, but weak to fave a foul.
It hurts, and cannot help, but as it tends
Through mercy to fubferve fome gofpel ends.
Law-thunder roughly to the gofpel tames,
The gofpel mildly to the law reclaims.
The fiery law, as 'tis a covenant,
Schools men to fee the gofpel aid they want ;
Then gofpel aid does fweetiy them incline
Back to the law, as 'tis a rule divine.
Heaven's healing work is oft commenc'd with wounds*
Terror begins what loving-kindnefs crowns.
Preachers may therefore prefs the fiery law,
To ftrike the chriftlefs man with dreadful awe.
Law threats which for his fins to hell deprefs,
Yea, damn him for his rotten righteoufnefs ;
That while he views the law exceeding broad,
He fain may wed the righteonfnefs of God.
But, ah ! to prefs law- works as terms of life*.
Was ne'er the way to court the Lamb a wife*
,
Chap.V. THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 71
To urge conditions in the legal frame,
Is to renew the vain old covenant game.
The law is good, when lawfully 'tis us'd,*
But mod deftructive when it is abus'd.
They fet no duties in their proper fphere,
Who duly la# and gofpel don't fever ;
But under maffy chains let finners lie,
As tributaries or to Do or Die ;
Nor make the law a fquaring rule of life,
But in the gofpel throat a bloody knife.
SECT. IV. Damnable Pride and Se!f-righteoufnefs, jh.
natural to all men* has Utile need to be enc cur aged by legal
v preaching.
The legal path proud nature loves fo well,
{Though yet 'tis but the cleaned road to hell,)
That lo ! e'en thefe that take the fouleft ways,
Whofe lewdnefs no controuling bridle ft ays,
If but their drowfy confcience raife its voice,
'Twill fpeak the law of works their native choice*
And echo to the roufing found, c Ah, true,
* I cannot hope to live, unlefs I Do.'
No confcious bread of mortal kind can trace
The myftery deep of being fav'd by grace.
Of this nor is the natural confcience fkill'd,
Nor will admit it when it is reveal'd ;
But pufnes at the gofpel like a ram,
As proxy for the law, againft the Lamb.
The proud, felf-righteous, pharifaic drain
Is « Bled be God, I'm not like other men ; .
* I read and pray, give alms, I mourn and fad ;f
* And therefore hope I'll get to heaven at lad :
* For though from every mi I be not free,
* Great multitudes of men are worfe than me.
' I'm none of thofe that fwear, cheat, drink and whore/
Thus on the law he builds his Babel tower.
Yea, e'en the vileft curfed debauchee
Will make the law of works his very plea ;
< Why, (fays the rake) v/hat take you me to be ?
* 1 Tim* i. 8. f Luke xviii, n, 13.
!
72 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part I.
6 A Turk or infidel ; (you lie,) I can't "1
* Be term'd fo bafe, but by a fycophant ; >
4 Only I hate to act the whining faint, J
* I am a Chriftian true : and therefore bode
* It fhall be well with me, I hope in God.
' An't I an honeft man ? yea, I defy •
* The tongue that dare affert black to mine eye.'
Perhaps, when the reprover turns his back,
He'll vend the viler wares o* 's open'd pack,
And with his fellows, in a drain more big,
Bid damn the bafe uncharitable whig.
Thefe fcouridrel hypocrites (he'll proudly fay)
Think none fhall ever merit heav'n but they,
And yet we may compete with them ; for fee,
*The beft have blemifhes as well as we.
We have as good a heart (we truft) as thefe,
Tho' not with vain fuperfluous fhew and blaze.
Bigotted zealots, whofe fole crimes are hid,
Would damn us all to hell ; but God forbid.
Whatever fuch a whining feci profefs,
'Tis but a nice, morofe, affected drefs.
And though we don't pretend fo much as they,
We hope to compafs heav'n a fhorter way ;
We feek God's mercy, and are all along
Moft free of malice, and do no man wrong.
But whims fantaftic fhan't our heads annoy,
That would our focial liberties deftroy.
Sure, right religion never was defign'd
To mar the native mirth of human kind.
How weak are thofe that would be thought nonfuch;
How mad, that would be righteous o'er much !
We have fufneient, though we be not cramm'd ;
We'll therefore hope the beft, let them be damn'd.'
Ah, horrid talk ! yet fo the legal ftrain
Lards e'en the language of the moft profane.
Thus dev'lifh pride o'erlooks a thoufand faults,
And on a legal ground itfelf exalts.
This DO and LIVE, though doing pow'r be loft,
In-ev'ry mortal is proud nature's boaft.
How does a vain conceit of goodnefs fwell,
And feed falfe hope, amidPc the fhades of hell ?
Chap. V. THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS.
Shall we, who fhould by gofpel methods draw,
Send finners to their nat'ral fpoufe the law 5
And harp upon the doing firing to fuch,
Who ignorantly dreafn they do fo much ?
Why, thus, inftead of courting Chrift a bride,
We harden rebels in their native pride.
Much rather ought we in God's name to place
His great artilPry ftraight againft their face ;
And throw hot Sinai thunderbolts around,
To burn their tow'ring hopes down to the ground*
To make the pillars of their pride to fhake,
And damn their doings to the burning lake,
To curfe the doers unto endlefs thrall,
That never did continue to do alL %
To fcorch their confclence with the flaming air,
And fink their haughty hopes in deep defpair ;
Denouncing EbaPs black revenging doom,
To blaft their expectation in the bloom ;
Till once vain hope of life by works give place
Unto a folid hope of life by grace.
The vig'rous ufe of means is fafely urg'd,
When preffing calls from legal dregs are purg'd ;
But-moft unfafely in a fed'ral drefs,
Confounding terms of life with means of grace.
Oh i dangerous is th' attempt proud fiefh to pleafe s
Or fend a finner to the law for eafe ;
Who rather needs to feel its piercing dart,
Till dreadful pangs invade his trembling heart ;
And thither fhould be only fent for flames
Of fire to burn his rotten hopes and claims ;
That thus difarm'd, he gladly may embrace,
And grafp with eagernefs the news of grace.
* Gal. Oi, 10.
/;>
74 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part I.
SECT. V. The G of pel of Divine Grace the only means ef
converting Sinners, and Jhould be preached therefore mo/l
clearly, fully, and freely.
They ought, who royal grace's heralds be
To trumpet loud falvation, full and free :
Nor fafely can, to humour mortal pride,
In filence evangelic myft'ries hide.
What heav'n is pleas'd to give, dare we refufe ;
Or under ground conceal, left men abufe ?
Supprefs the gofpel flow'r, upon pretence
That fome vile fpiders may fuck poifon thence ?
Chrift is nflambUng block,* fhall we negledl
To preach him, left the blind fhould break their neck ?
That high he's for the fall of many fet
As well as for the rife,\ muft prove no let.
No grain of precious truth muft be fuppreft, m
Though reprobates fhould to their ruin wreft.
Shall heav'n's corufcant lamp be dimm'd, that pays
Its daily tribute down in golden rays,
Becaufe fome, blinded with the blazing gleams,
Share not the pleafure of the lightning beams :
Let thofe be hard'ned, petrify'd, and harm'd,
The reft are mollify'd and kindly warm'd.
A various favour,^ flowers in grace's field,
Of life to fome, of death to others yield.
Muft then the rofe be vaiPd, the lily hid,
The fragrant favour ftifled ! God forbid.
The revelation of the gofpel flower,
Is ftill the organ fam'd of faving power ;
Moft juftly then are legal minds condemn'd,
That of the glorious gofpel are ailiam'd :
For this the divine arm, and only this,
The power of God unto falvation is.
For therein is reveaVd, to fcreen from wrath,
The righteoufnefs of God from faith to faith* §
* i Cor. i. »3. f Luke ii. 34.
J % Cor. ii. 16. § Rom, i. 26, a 7-
Chap. V. THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 75
The happy change in guilty iinners cafe
They owe to free difplays of fovereign grace %
Whofe joyful tidings of amazing love
The minyiratlon of the Spin- prbv& ■
The glorious vent -the goipel news exprefs,
Of God's free grace, thro' ChrifVs full righteoufnefs,
Is heaven's gay chariot where the Spirit bides,
And in his conquering power triumphant rides.
The gofpel field is ftill the Spirit's foil,
The golden pipe that bears the holy oil ;
The orb where he outfhines the radiant fun,
The filver channel where his graces run.
Within the gofpel banks his flowing tide
Of light'ning, quick'ning motions, fweetly glide.
Received ye the Spirit, fcripture faith,*
By legal works, or by the word of faith P
If by the gofpel only, then let none
Dare to be wifer than the wifeft One.
We muft, who freely get, as freely give
The vital word that makes the dead to live*
For even to finners dead within our reach
We in his Jiving name may moil fuccefsful preach.
The Spirit and the fcripture both agree
Jointly, fays Chrift, To tefiify of ine.f
The preacher then will from his text decline,
That fcorns to harmonize with this defign.
Prefs moral duties to the laft degree ;
Why not ? but mind, left we fuccefslefs be,
No light, no-hope, no ft rength for duties fpring,
Where Jefus is not Prophet, Prieft, and King.
No light to fee the way unlefs he teach 9
No joyful hope, fave in his blood we reach,
Nor ftrength, unlefs his royal arm he ftretch.
Then from our leading fcope how grofs we fall,
If, like his name, in every gofpel call,
We make not him the Pirft, the Lafh the All i
Our office is to bear the radiant torch
Of gofpel light into the darkened porch
Of human underftahdings, and difplay
* Gal. iii. 2* f John xv. a 6, v. 39*
j
all, T
:6 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part I.
The joyful dawn of everlafting day ;
To draw the golden chariot of free grace,
The darken'd fhades with (Ktnmg rays to chafe,
Till heaven's bright lamp on circling wheels be huri'd,
With fparklmg grandeur round the dufky world ;
And thus to" bring in dying mortals fight,
New life and immortality to light 4
We're charg'd to preach the go/pel, unconfin'd,
To every cf eature .§. of the human kind ;
To call, with tenders of falvation free,
All corners of the earth to come and fee : [|
And every finner mud excufeiefs make,
B) r urging; lich and peer to came and take. ^
Hoy every one that thirjhfi is grace's call
3Dtre,6i: to needy fpi^s great and_fmall;
Np! meaning thofe alone, whole holy thirft
their foul's already bleft.
I h ■■■ : vveie cali'd, then none but faints ;
raid the go! pel fuit the finner s wants.
ier$ the call does ftgnally import
£>itoieis and fHJrfty fouls of every fort;
And i ruiay to their door the meffage brings,
Who yet are thirfting after empty things ;
4 Who fpend their means no living bread to buy,
* And pains for that which cannot fatisfy.'
Such thirfty finners here invited are,
Who vainly fpend their money, thought, and care,
On pairing fhades, vile lufts, and train fo bafe,
As yield immortal fouls no true folace.
The call directs them, as they would be bleft,
To chufe a purer object of their thirft.
All are invited by the joyful found
To drink who need, as does the parched ground,
Whofe wi de-mouth' d clefts fpeak to the brazen iky
Its paffive thirft, without an active cry.
The gofpel preacher then, With holy (hill,
Mull offer Chrift to whom fcever .will,
f 2 Tim. i. io.
§ Murk xvi. 15. [| Ifa. xlv. 22. John i. 39, 46*
f Rev. xxiu 17, * JiH.lv. i, 2,
1
Jhap. V. THE BELIEVERS ESPOUSALS. 77
To finners of all forts that can be nam'd ;
The blind, the lame, the poor, the halt, the maim'd.^
Not daring to reftrict the extenfive call,
But opening wide the net to catch them all.
No foul muft be excluded that will come.
Nor rio;ht of accefs be confm'd to fome.
Though none will come till confcious of their want*
Yet right they have to come by fovereign grant ;
Such right to Chrift, his promife, and his grace,
That -all are damn'd w 7 ho hear and don't embrace*
So freely is the unbounded call difpens'd,
We therein find even finners unconvinc'd ;
Who know not they are naked, blind, and poor,f
CounfelPd to buy or beg at Jefus door,
And take the glorious robe, eye-falve, & golden ftore
This prize they are oblig'd by faith to win,
Elfe unbelief would never be their fin.
Yea, gofpel offers but a fliam we make*
If every finner has not right to take.
Be gofpel heralds fortify'd from this,
To trumpet grace, howe'er the ferpent hifs.
Did helPs malicious mouth in dreadful fhape
*Gainft innocence itfelf malignant gape :
Then facred truth's devoted vouchers may
For dire reproach their meafures conftant lay*
With cruel calumny of old commenc'd,
This feci will every where be /poke agcunjl ;\
While to and fro he runs the earth acrofs,
Whofe name is adelphon kategoros.S
In fpite of hell be then our conftant ftrife
To win the glorious Lamb a virgin wife*
* Luke xiv. 21. f Rev. iii. 17, 18. J Acts xxviiU ■;
§ Or, The accuser, of the brethren*
e 2-
GOSPEL SONNETS. Part I.
CHAP VI.
An Exhortation to all that are out of Chrift, in
order to their doling the match with him j
containing alfo motives and dire&ions.
JtvEADEJl, into thine hands thefe lines are given,
But not without the providence of Heaven ;
Or to advance thy blifs, if thou art wife,
Or aggravate thy wo, if thou defpife.
For thee, for thee, perhaps th' omnifcient ken
,, Has form'd the counfel here, and led the pen.
The writer then does thy attention plead,
In his great name that gave thee eyes to read.
SECT. I. Conviction offered to Sinners, efpecially fuch as
are wedded fir icily to the law, or f elf -righteous ^ that they
may fee the need of ChrifPs righteoufnefs *
If never yet thou didfl: fair Jefus wed,
Nor yield thy heart to be his marriage bed,
But hitherto art wedded to the law,
Which never could thy chain'd affections draw
From brutifh lufts and fordid lover's charms j
JLo ! thou art yeb in Satan's folded arms.
Hell's power invifible thy foul retains
His captive jQave, lock'd up in maffy chains.
O ! finner then, as thou regard'ft thy life,
Seek, feek, with ardent care and earned ftrife,
To be the glorious Lamb's betrothed wife.
For bale co-rivals never let him lofe
Thy heart^his bed of conjugal repofe.
Wed ChnfiPalone. and with fevere remorfe
From other mates purfue a clean divorce ;
For they thy ruin feek by fraud or force.
As lurking ferpents in the fhady bowers
Conceal their malice under fpreading flowers ;
?hap. VI. THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 79-
5o thy deceitful lulls with cruel fpite
lide ghaftly danger under gay delight."
Art thou a legal zealot, foft or rude,
denounce thy natural and acquired good.
Is bafe deceitful lufts may work thy fmart,
may deceitful frames upon thy heart.
eeming good motions may in fome be found,
luch joy in hearing, like the ftony ground ;*
luch forrow too in praying, as appears
Efau's careful fuit with rueful tears, f
Touching the law, they blamelefs may appear,^:
From fpurious views mod fpecious virtues bear.
Nor merely be devout in man's efteem,
But prove to be fmcerely what they feem,
Friends to the holy law in heart and life,
Surers of heaven with utmoft legal ftrife ;
Yet frill with innate pride fo rankly fpic'd,
Converted but to duties, not to Chrift.
That publicans and harlots heaven obtain §,
Before a cretv {o righteous and fo vain.
Sooner will thofe make off their vicious drefs,
Than thefe blind zealots will their righteoufnefs,
Who judge they have (which fortifies their pride)
The law of God itfelf upon their fide.
Old nature, new brufh'd up with legal pains,
Such ftridt attachment to the law retains,
No means, no motives can to Jems draw
Vain fouls fo doubly wedded to the law.
But wouldfl: the glorious Prince in marriage have»
Know that thy natural hufband cannot fave.
Thy bed effays to pay the legal rent
Can never in the leaft the law content.
Didft thou in prayers employ the morning light,
In tears and groans the watches of the night,
Pafs thy whole life in clofe devotion o'er;
fTis nothing to the law ftill craving more.
There's no proportion 'twixt its high commands
And puny works from thy polluted hands ;
Perfection is the leaft that it demands.
* Luke viii. 13, f Heb. xii. 17.
f Phil. iii. % § Matth. xxi. 31.
i
8o GOSPEL SONNETS. Pa*t L
IVouldJl enter into life, then keep the law ;\
But keep it perfectly without a flaw.
It won't have lefs, nor will abate at laft
A drop of vengeance for the fin that's pail.
Tell, finful mortal, is thy ftock fo large
As duly can defray this double charge ?
* Why thefe are mere impoffibles,' (fay 'ft thou,)
Yea, truly fo they are, and therefore now,
That down thy legal confidence may fall,
The law's black doom, home to thy bofom call.
* Lo ! I (the divine law) demand no lefs
4 Than perfect everlafting righteoufneis ;
* But thou haft fail'd, and loft thy ftrength to Do :
* Therefore I doom thee to eternal wo j
4 In prifon clofe to be fhut up for ay,
4 Eie I be baffled with thy partial pay.
* Thou always didft and doft my precepts break,
* I therefore curfe thee to the burning lake.
* In God the great Lawgiver's glorious name,
1 I judge thy foul to everlafting ihame,
f Nojlejh can by the law be jujlijied ;\
Yet dareft thou thy legal duties plead ?
As Paul appeal' d to Cefar, wilt thou fo,
Unto the law ? then to it fhalt thou go,
And find it doom thee to eternal wo.
What ! would ye have us plung'd in deep defpair I
Amen ; yea, God himfelf would have you there,
His will it is that you defpair of life
And fafety by the law, or legal ftrife ;
That cleanly thence divorc'd at any rate,
His faireft Son may have a faithful mate.
9 Till this law fentence pafs within your breaft,
You'll never wed the law difcharging Prieft.
You prize not heaven, till he through hell you draw ;
Nor love the gofpel, till you know the law.
Know then, the divine law moft perfect cares
For none of thy imperfect legal wares ;
Dooms thee to vengeance for thy finful flate,
As well as finful actions fmall or great.
f Mattb. xxi. if*. i Rom. lii. so.
s
:hap.VI. THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. ft
If any fin can be accounted final!, ^
To hell it dooms thy foul for one and all.
For fins of nature, pradlice, heart, and way,
Damnation-rent it fummons thee to pay.
Yea, not for fin alone, which is thy fiiame,
But for thy boafted fervice too fo lame,
._ The law adjudges thee and hell to meet,
Becaufe thy righteoufnefs is incomplete.
As4:owering flames burn up the wither' d flags,
So will the fiery law thy filthy rags,
SECT. II. Direction given, with reference to the right ufe
of the means, that we rejl not on thefe injlead of Chrifl, the
glorious Hufoand, in whom our help lies.
Adam, where art thou ?\ Soul, where art thou now ?
Oh ! art thou faying, Sir, whatfhall I do ?%
I dare not ufe that proud fef-raifing ilrain,
4 Go help yourfelf, and God will help you then/
Nay, rather know, O Jfrael, that thou hajl
Dejiroyed thyfelf, and ean'it not in the ieait
From fin nor wrath thyfelf the captive free,
* Thy help (fays Jeftts) only lies in me, ? |
Heaven's oracles direct cg him alone ;
Full help is laid upon this mighty One.
In him, in him complete falvation dwells ;
He's God the helper, and there is none e/fe.*fi
Fig leaves wont hide thee from the fiery fnower.
*Tis he alone that faves by price and power.
Mud we do nothing then, (will mockers fay,)
But reft in floth till Heav'n the help convey ;
Pray, flop a little, finner, don't abuie
God's awful word, that charges thee to ufe
Means, ordinances, which he's plea fed to place,
As precious channels of his powerful grace.
Reftlefs improve all thefe, until from Heaven
The whole falvation needful thus be given.
Wait in this path, according to his call,
On him whofe power alone affeð all.
f Gen. iii. 9. fMark x. if, § Hof. xiii. 9. % Ifa. xlv. %%%
§2 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part I.
Wouldft thou him wed, in duties wait, I fay,
But marry not thy duties by the way.
Thou'lt wofully come fliort of faving grace,
If duties only be thy refting place.
Nay, go a little further}- through them all,
To him whofe office is to fave from thrall.
Thus in a gofpel manner hopeful wait,
Striving to enter by the narrow gate : J
So ftrait and narrow, that it won't admit
The bunch upon thy back to enter it.
Not only bulky lufts may ceafe to prefs,
But even the bunch of boafted righteoufnefs.
Many, as in the facred page we fee,
Shall flrive to enter, but unable be :§
Becaufe, miftaking this new way of life,
They pufh a legal, not a gofpel ftrife :
As if their duties did Jehovah bind,
Becaufe 'tis written, Seek, and ye fhall find.^
Perverted Scripture does their error fence,
They read the letter, but neglect the fenfe,
While to the word no gofpel glofs they give,,
Their feek and find' *s the fame with do and live.
Hence would they a connection native place,
Between their moral pains and faving grace :
Their nat'ral poor eflays they judge won't mifs.
In juftice to infer eternal blifs.
Thus commentaries on the word they make,
Which to their ruin are a grand miftake :
For through the legal bias in their bread,
They fcripture to their own deftruclion wreft.
Why, if <we feek we get, they gather hence :
Which is not truth, fave in the fcripture fenfe.
There Jefus deals with friends, and elfewhere faith,
Thefe feekers only fpeed, that, afk in faith.*
The prayer of the wicked is abhorr'd,
As an abomination to the Lord.||
Ther fuits are fins, but their negre&s no lefs,
Which can't their guilt diminifn, but increafe.
f Song iiu i, 4. \ Matth, vii. 13, 14. § Luke xiii. 24-
f Matth. vii, 17. * James I 6. | Pro v. xv. 9. xxviii. 9*
Chap. VI. THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 83
They ought, like beggars, lie in grace's way ;
Hence Peter taught the forcerer to pray : %
For though mere nat'ral men's addrefs or prayers
Can no acceptance gain as works of theirs,
Nor have, as their performance, any fway ;
Yet as a divine ordinance they may.
But fpotlefs truth hath bound itfelf to grant
The fuit of none but the believing faint.
In Jefus, perfons once accepted, do
Acceptance find in him for duties too.
For He, whofe Son they do in marriage take,
Is bound to hear them for their Hufband's fake.
But let no Chriftlefs foul at prayer appear,
As if Jehovah were oblig'd to hear :
But ufe the means, becaufe a fov'reign God
May come with alms, in this his wonted road.
He wills thee to frequent kind wifdom's gate,
To read, hear, meditate, to pray, and wait \
Thy fpirit then be on thefe duties bent,
As gofpel means, but not as legal rent.
From thefe don't thy falvation hope nor claim,
But from Jehovah in the ufe of them.
The beggar's fpirit never was fo dull,
While waiting at the gate call'd Beautiful^
To hope for fuccour from the temple gate,
At which he daily did fo careful wait ;
But from the rich and charitable fort,
Who to the temple daily made refort.
Means, ordinances, are the comely gate,
At which kind Heav'n has bid us conftant wait :
Not that from thefe we have our alms, but from
The liberal God, who there is wont to come.
If either we thefe means mall dare neglect,
Or yet from thefe th' enriching blifs expect,
We from the glory of the king defalk,
Who in the galleries is wont to walk ;
We move not regular in duties road,
But bafe, invert them to an idol god.
Seek then, if gofpel means you would eflay.
Through grace to ufe them in a gofpel way ;
\ Acts viii, %z.
!
8* GOSPEL SONNETS. Part L
Not deeming that your duties are the price
Of divine favour, or of paradife ;
Nor that your beft efforts employ' d in thefe
Are fit exploits your awful Judge to pleafe,
Why, thus you bafely idolize your trafh,
And make it with the blood of Jefus clafh.
You'd buy the blefUng with your vile refufe,
And fo his precious righteoufnefs abufe.
What ! buy his gifts with filthy lumber ? nay ;
Whoever offers this muft hear him fay,
Thy money perijh with thy foul for ay.*
Duties are means, which to the marriage bed
Should chaftely lead us like a chamber maid;
But if with her inftead of Chrift w r e match,
We not our fafety, but our ruin hatch.
To Cefar what is Cefar's ihould be given,
But Cefar muft not have what's due to Heav'n ;
So duties fhould have duties room, 'tis true,
But nothing of the glorious Hufband's due.
While means the debt of clofe attendance crave,
Our whole dependence God alone muft have.
If duties, tears, our confcience pacify,
They with the blood of Chrift prefume to vie.
Means are his vaffals ; fliall we without grudge
Difcard the matter, and efpoufe the drudge ?
The hypocrite, the legalift does .fiir,
To live on duties, not on Chrift therein.
He only feeds on empty diflies, plates,
Who dotes on means, but at the manna frets.
Let never means content thy foul at all,
Without the Huiband, who is all in all.f
Cry daily for the happy marriage hour ;
To thee belongs the mean, to him the power.
SECT. III. A call to helkve in Jefus Chrlft 9 with fome
hints at the a& and ohjeci of Faith*
Friend, is the queftion on thy heart engrav'd,
' What fliall I do to be forever favM ?'%
* A&$ vi». 30. f Col. iii, 3, j Ae"b xvi. 30. -
Chap. VI. THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. t$
Lo ! here's a living rock to build upon ;
Believe in Jefus ;* and on him alone
For righteoufnefs and ftrength thine anchor drop,
Renouncing all thy former legal hope.
4 Believe (lay you !) I can no more believe,
* Than keep the law of works, the DO and LIVE.'
True ; and it were thy mercy, didft thou fee
Thine utter want of all ability.
New covenant graces he alone can grant,
Whom God has given to be the covenant ;f
Even Jefus, whom the facred letters call
Faith's object, author, fmifher, and ail ;
In him alone, not in thy act of faith,
Thy foul believing full falvatien hath.
In this new covenant judge not faith to held
The room of perfect doing in the old.
Faith is not given to be the federal price
Of other bleffings, or of paradiie :
But Heaven, by giving this, (hikes out a door
At which is carried in ft ill more and more.
No firmer mull upon his faith lay ftrefs,
As if it were a perfect righteoufnefs.
God ne'er aiiign'd unto it fuch a place ;
*Tis but at beft a bankrupt begging grace.
Its object makes its fame to fly abroad,
So clofe it gripes the righteoufnefs of God ;
Which righteoufnefs received, is (without itrjfe)
The true condition of eternal life.
But ftill, fay you, power to believe I mifs.
You may ; but know you what believing is f
Faith lies not in your building up a tower
Of fome great action by your proper power,
For Heaven well knows, that by the killing fall,
No power, no will remains in man at all
For acts divinely good ; 'till fov'reign grace,
By powerful drawing virtue turn the chace*
* Verfc jr. Vh.jd'il6.
II •
86 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part I.
Hence none believe in Jefus as they ought,
'Till once they firft believe they can do nought,
Nor are fufficlent e'en to form a thought.*
They're confcious, in the right believing hour,
Of human weaknefs, and of divine power.
Faith adte not in the fenfe of ftrength and might,
But in the fenfe of weaknefs a&s outright.
It is (no boafting arm of power or length)
But weaknefs a fling on almighty Jlrength.f
It is the powerlefs, helplefs fmner's flight
Into the open arms of faving might ;
'Tis an employing Jefus to do all
That can within falvation's compafs fall $
To be the agent kind in ev'ry thing
Belonging to a prophet, prieft, and king ;
To teach, to pardon, fandlify, and fave,
And nothing to the creature's power to leave.
Faith makes us joyfully content that he
Our Head, our Hufband, and our All fhould be ;
Our righteoufnefs and ftrength, our ftock and ftore,
Our fund for food and raiment, grace and glore.
It makes the creature down to nothing fall,
Content that Chrift alone be all in all.
The plan of grace is faith's delightful view,
With which it clofes, both as good and true.
Unto the truths the mind's affent is full,
Unto the goody a free confenting will.
The Holy Spirit here the agent chief,
Creates this faith, and dailies unbelief.
That very God who calls us to believe,
The very faith he feeks mud alfo give.
Why calls he then ? fay you. Pray, man, be wife ;
Why did he call dead Lazarus to rife ?
Becaufe the orders in their bofom bear
Almighty power to make the carcafe hear.
But Heaven may not this mighty power difplay.
Mod true ; yet ftill thou art obliged t' obey.
But God is not at all obliged to ftretch
His faving arm to fuch a fmful wretch.
* Z Cor. til, 5. f 2 Cor, xii. 9.
\
hap. VI. THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 87
All who within falvation roils have place,
Are faved by a prerogative of grace ;
But veffels all that lhall with wrath he cramrn'd,
Are by an act of holy juilice dajnan'd.
Take then, dear foul, as from a friendly heart,
The counfel which the following lines impart.
SECT. IV. An advice to firmer s to apply to the fovereign
mercy of God, as it is difcovered through Chrijl, to the high-
eft honour cfjujtice, and other divine attributes, in order to
further their faith in him unto falvation.
Go, friend, and at Jehovah's footftool bow ;
Thou knoweft not what a fov'reign God may do.
Confefs, if he commiferate thy cafe,
'Twill be an act of powerful fov'reign grace :
Sequeftrate carefully fome folernn hours,
To fhew thy grand concern in fecret powers*
Then in the enfuing drain to God impart,
And pour into his bofom all thy heart.
< O glorious, gracious, powerful, fov'reign Lord,
* Thy help unto a finful worm afford 5
* Who from my wretched birth to this fad hour
* Have ftill been deftitute of will and power
* To clofe with glorious Chrift ; yea, jEll'd with fpite
* At thy fair darling, and thy faints' delight,
* Refilling all his grace with all my might.
* Come, Lord, and fap my enmity's ftrong tower ;
4 O hafte the marriage day, the day of power :
* That fwe^tly, by refiftlefs grace inclin'd,
* My once reluctant be a willing mind.
* Thou fpak'il to being ev'ry thing we fee,
4 When thy almighty will faid, Let it be.
4 Nothings to beings in a moment pafs :
* Let there be light, thou faidjl ; and fo it <was. %
€ A powerful word like this, a mighty call,
* Muft fay, Let there be faith, and then it (hall.
* Thou feek'ft my faith and flight from fin and guilt ;
* Give what thou feek'ft, Lord \ then feek what thou wilt.
* Gen. i. 3.
!
88 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part I.
€ What good can iffuc from a root fo ill ?
This heart of mine's a wicked lump of hell ;
'Twill all thy common motions ft ill refill,
Unlefs with ipecial drawing virtue bleft.
Thou calls, but with the ^all thy power convey
Command me to believe, and I'll obey,
Nor any more thy gracious call gainfay.
Command, O Lord, effedhully command,
And gi Eland
Then p wither-*! hand.
< I to ) claim,
But v. I ime ;
Whic! ily,
In d^mni:: :y wretch as me,
A faggot
Of thine hi,
Yet, Lord, fince now I hear thy glorious S
In favour of a race that was undone,
Did in thy name, by thf authority,
Once to the full fern juftice fatisfy ;
And paid more glorious tribute thereunto
Than hell and all its torments e'er can do.
Since my falvation through his blood can raife
A revenue to juftice' higheft praife,
Higher than rents, which hell for ever pays :
Thefe to tremendous juftice never bring
A fatisfaction equal and condign.
But Jefus our once dying God performs,
What never could by ever dying worms :
Since thus thy threat'ning law is honour'd more
Than e'er my fins affronted it before :
Since juftice ftern may greater glory win,
By juftifying in thy darling Son,
Than by condemning ev'n the rebel me ;
To this device of wilxlorn, lo ! I flee.
Let juftice, Lord, according to thy will,
Be glorify'd with glory great and full ;
Net now in hell where juftice petty pay
Is but extorted parcels mine'd for ay :
But glorify'd hi Chrift, who down has told
The total Aim at once in liquid gold,
Chap. VI. THE BELIEVERVESPOUSALS. 89
In lowed hell low praife* is only won,
But juftice has the higheft in thy Son ;
The Sun of righteoufheis that let in red,
To (hew the glorious morning would fucceed.
In him then fave thou me from fin and (hame,
And to the higheft glorify thy name.
* Since this bright fcene thy glories all exprefs,
And grace as emprefs reigns through righteoufnefs- $
Since mercy fair runs in a crimfon flood,
And vents through juftice fatisfying blood ;
Not only then for mercy's fake I fue,
But for the glory of thy juftice too.
And iince each letter of thy name divine
Has in fair Jefus' face the brighteft fiiine,
i
This glorious Hufband be for ever mine.
i On this ftrong argument fo fweet, fo bleft,
With thy allowance, Lord, I muft infift.
Great God, fince thou.alloweft unworthy me
To make thy glorious name my humble plea j
No glory worthy of it wilt thou gain,
By cafting me into the burning main.
My feeble back can never fuit the load,
That fpeafcs thy name a fin revenging God.
Scarce would that name feem a confuming fire
Upon a worm unworibr of thine ire.
But fee the worthy Lamb, thy chofen Prieft,
With juftice* burning glafs agamft. his breaft,
Contracting all the beams of 'venging wrath,
As in their centre, till he burn to death.
Vengeance can never be fo much pioclaim'd,
By fcatter'd beams among the millions -damn'd.
Then, Lord, in him, me to the utmoft fave,
And thou ihalt glory to the higheft have :
Glory to wifdom, that contrived fo well \
Glory to power, that bore and bury'd hell I
Glory to holinejs, which fin defac'd,
With fmlefs fervice now divinely grac'd !
Glory to juftice 9 fword, that flaming flood,
Now drunk to pleafure with atoning blood I
Glory to truth, that now in fcarlet clad,
Has feal'd both threats and promifes with reel !
H 2
po GOSPEL SONNETS. Part I.
i
.1
' Glory to mercy, now in purple dreams,
* So fweetly gliding through the divine flames
* Of other once offended, now exalted names !
* Each attribute confpires with joint embrace,
* To fhew its fparkling rays in Jefus' face ;
* And thus to deck the crown of matchlefs grace.
* But to thy name in hell ne'er can accrue
* The thoufandth part of this great revenue.
* O ravifhing contrivance ! light that blinds
* Cherubic gazers, and feraphic minds !
1 They prey into the deep, and love to learn
* What yet fhould vaftly more be my concern.
* Lord, once my hope moft reafonlefs could dream
* Of heaven, without regard to thy great name :
* But here is laid my lairing hope to found,
* A highly rational, a divine ground.
* 'Tis reasonable, I expect thou'lt take
* The way that moft will for thine honour make.
* Is this the plan ? Lord, let me build my claim
* To life, on this high glory of thy name.
' Nor let my faithlefs heart or think, or fay,
* That all this glory mall be thrown away
* In my perdition ; which will never raife
1 To thy great name fo vaft a rent of praife.
' O then a rebel into favour take :
« Lord, fnield and fave me for thy glory's fake,
* My endlefs ruin is not worth the coft,
* That fo much glory be for ever loft.
* I'll of the greateft fmner bear the fhame,
* To bring the greateft honour to thy name.
* Small lofs, though I fhould perifli endlefs days,
* But thoufand pities grace fhould lofe the praife.
* O hear, Jehovah, get the glory then,
* And to my fupplication fay, Amen?
SECT. V. The terrible Doom of unbelievers and rejefiers of
Chrlft, or defpifers of the gofpeU
Thus, fmner, into Jefus' bofom flee,
Then there is hope in Ifrael fure for thee.
Slight not the call, as running by in rhime,
1
Chap. VI. THE BELIEVERS ESPOUSALS. 91
Left thou repent for ay, if not in time.
,r Fis mod unlawful to contemn and fhun
All wholefome counfels that in metre run ;
Since the prime fountains of the facred writ
Jvfuch heav'nly truth in holy rhimes tranfmit.
If this don't pleafe, yet hence it is no crime
To verfify the word, and preach in rhirne.
But in whatever mould the doctrine lies,
Some erring minds will gofpel truth deipife
Without remeid, till Heav'n anoint theip eyes,
Thefe lines pretend no conqu'ring art nor fkill,
But fhew, in weak attempts, a ftrong good will
To mortify all native legal pride,
And court the Lamb of God a virgin bride.
If he thy conjunct match be never given,
Thou'rt doom'd to hell as fure as God's in heaven*
If gofpel grace and goodnefs don't thee draw,
Thou art condemn' d already by the law.
Yea, hence damnation deep will doubly brace,
If dill thy heart contemn redeeming grace.
No argument from fear or hope will move,
Or draw thy heart, if not the bond of love ;
Nor flowing joys, nor flaming terrors chafe
To Chrift the hav'n, without the gales of grace,
O ilighter, then, of grace's joyful found,
Thou'rt over to the wrathful ocean bound,
Anonthou'lt fink into the gulph of woes,
Whene'er thy wafting hours are at a clofe ;
Thy falfe old legal hope will then be loft,
And with thy wretched foul give up the ghoft.
Then farewel God and Chrift, and grace and glore ;
Undone thou art, undone for evermore,
For ever finking underneath the load
And preffure of a fin revenging God.
The facred awful text aflerts, < To fall
* Into his living hands is fearful thrall ;
* When no more facrifice for fin remains,'*
But ever living wrath, and lading chains :
* Heb. x. £9, 31.
92, GOSPEL SONNETS. Part I.
}
Heav'n ftill upholding life in dreadful death,
Still throwing down hot thunderbolts of wrath,
As full of terror, and as manifold
As finite velfels of his wrath can hold.
* Then, then we may fuppofe the wretch to cry,
Oh, if this damning God would let mc die,
And not torment me to eternity !
Why from the filent womb of ftupid earth.
Did Heav'n awake, and pufli me into birth ?
Curs'd be the day that ever gave me life ;
Curs' d be the cruel parents, man and wife,
Means of my being, inftruments of wo ;
For now I'm damn'd, I'm damn'd, and always fo.
Curs'd be the day that ever made me hear
The gofpel call which brought falvation near,
The endlefs found of flighted mercy's bell
Has in mine ears the moil tormenting knell.
Of offer'd grace 'I vain repent the lois,
The joyful found with horror recognofce.
The hollow vault reverberates the found ;
This killing echo ftrikes the deepeft wound,
And with too late remorfe does now confound.
Into the dungeon of defparr I'm lock'd,
Th' once open door of hope for ever block' d ;
Hcpelefs I link into the dark abyfs,
Banifti'd for ever from eternal blifs.
In boiling waves of vengeance muft I lie ?
O could I curfe this dreadful God and die.
Infinite years hi torment fhall I fpend,
And never, never, never at an end !
Ah ! mufti live in torturing defpair
As many years as atoms in the air ?
When thefe are fpent, as many thoufands more
As grains of fand that crowd the ebbing fhore?
When thefe are done, as many yet behind
As leaves of forefl ihaken with the wind ?
When thefe are gone, as many to enfue
As items of grafs on hills and dales that grew !
When thefe run out, as many on the march
As ftarry lamps that gild the fpangled arch ?
s
Chap. VI. THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 93
* When thefe expire, as many millions more
< As moments in the millions pad before ?
* When all thefe doleful years are fpent in paiii,
* And multiply'd by myriads again,
< Till numbers drown the thought, could I fuppofe
4 That then my wretched years were at a clofe,
' This would afford fome eafe : but, ah ! I fliiver
4 To think upon the dreadful found, for ever J
< The burning gulph, where I blafpheming lie,
€ Is time no more, but vaft eternity,
1 The growing torment I endure for fin,
€ Through ages all is always to begin.
* Plow did I but a grain of pleafure fow,
* To reap an harveft of immortal wo ?
* Bound to the bottom of the burning main,
* Gnawing my chains, I wifh for death in vain.
* Juft doom ! fince I that bear the eternal load
4 Contemn'd the death of an eternal God.
« Oh ! if the God that curs'd me to the lafh,
* Would blefs me back to nothing with a dafii !
* But hopelefs I the juft avenger hate,
€ Blafpheme the wrathful God, and curfe my fate.'
To thefe this word of terror I aired.
Who now the great fahaiion dare neglstl j*
To all the Chrift-defpifing multitude,
That trample on the great Redeemer's blood :
That fee no beauty in his glorious face,
But flight his oilers, and refufe his grace.
A meffenger of wrath to none I am,
But thole that hate to wed the worthy Lamb*
For though the fmalleft fins, if fmall can be,
Will plunge the chriftlefs foul in mifery :
Yet, lo ! the greateft that to mortals cleave,
Shan't damn the fouls in Jefus that believe :
Becaufe they on the very method fall
That w r ell can make amends to God for all.
Whereas proud fouls, through unbelief, won't 1st
The glorious God a reparation get
* Heb. :i. 3,
94 GOSPEL SONNEfS. Tart. I.
Of all his honour in his darling Son,
For all the great difhonours they have done.
A faithlefs foul the glorious God bereaves
Of all the fatisfaciion that he craves ;
Hence under divine hotted fury lies,
And with a double vengeance juflly dies.
The blackeft part of Tophet is their place,
Who flight the tenders of redeeming grace.
That facrilegious monfter, Unbelief,
So hardened 'gainfl remorfe and pious grief,
Robs God of all the glory of his names,
And every divine attribute defames.
It loudly calls die truth of God a lie ;
The God of truth a liar /* horrid cry ! .
Doubts and denies his precious words of grace,
Spits venom in the royal Suitor's face.
This monfter cannot ceafe all fin to hatch,
Becaufe it proudly mars the happy match.
As each law wedded foul is join'd to fin,
And deftitute of holinefs within ;
So all that wed the law, mull wed the curfe,
Which rent they fcorn to "pay with Chrift's full purfe*
They clear may read their dreadful doom in brief,
Whofe fefter'd fore is final unbelief:
Though to the law their life exactly fram'd,
For zealous acts and paffions too were fam'd :
Yet, lo ! He that believes not, fhall be damn'*
■ \
But now 'tis proper on the other fide,
With words of comfort to addrefs the bride.
She in her glorious Hufband does poffefs
Adorning grace, acquitting righteoufnefs :
And hence to her pertain the golden mines
Of comfort open'd in the foll'wing lines.
* John v. 10. f JoUn ill* iSL
GOSPEL SONNETS.
PART II.
THE BELIEVER'S JOINTURE :
OR,
THE POEM CONTINUED,
Upon Isaiah liv. 5. Thy Maker is thy Hifba; d,
N. B. The following lines being primarily intended
for the ufe and edification of pioufly exercifed fouls,
and efpecially thofe of a more common and ordinary
capacity ; the author thought fit, through the whole
of the fecond part of this book, to continue, as in the
former editions, to repeat that part of the text, Thy
Hujhand, in the laft line of every' verfe : becaufe, how-
ever it tended to limit him, and reftrict his liberty of
words in the compofition, yet having ground to judge,
that this appropriating appellation^ftill refumed, has
rendered thefe lines formerly the more favoury to
fome exercifed Chriftians, to whom the name of Chrift
(particularly as their Head and Hufband)"/j as o'tnt*
ment poured forth ; he chofe rather to fubjed himfelf to
that reftriciion, than to withhold what may tend to
the fatisfaction and comfort of thofe to whom Chrift
is all in all ; and to whom his name, as their Hufband,
fo many various ways applied, will be no naufeous
repetition.
CHAP. I.
Containing the Privileges of the Believer that
is efpoufed to Chrift by faith of divine op-
eration.
SECT. I. The Believer's perfecl beauty, free acceptance, and
full fecurity, through the imputation of Chrijl y s perfed right-
coufnefs, though imparted grace be imperfect.
O HAPPY foul, Jehovah's bride,
The Lamb's beloved fpoufe $
Strong confolation's flowing tide,
Thy Hufband thee allows.
96 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part IL
In thee, though like thy father's race,
By nature black as hell,
Yet now, fo beautify' d by grace,
Thy Hufband loves to dwell*
Fair as the moon thy robes appear,
While graces are in drefs ;
Clear as the fun ,* while found to wear
Thy Hufcand's righteoufnefs.
Thy moon-like graces, changing much,
Have here and there a fpot ;
Thy fun like glory is not fuch,
Thy Hufband changes not.
Thy white and ruddy veflure fair
Outvies the rofy leaf;
For 'mong ten thoufand beauties rare
Thy Hufband is the chief.
Cloth'd with the fun, thy robes of light
The morning rays outfhine ;
The lamps of heav'n are not ib bright,
Thy Hufband decks thee fine.
Though hellifh fmoke thy duties flain,
And fin deform thee quite ;
Thy Surety's merit makes thee clean,
Thy Hufband's beauty white.
Thy prayers and tears, nor pure, nor good,
But vile and loathibme leem ;
Yet gain, by dipping in his blood,
Thy Hufband's high efteem.
No fear thou ftarve, though wants be great,
In him thou art complete r\
Thy hungry foul may hopeful wait,
Thy Hufband gives thee meat.
' Thy money, merit, power and pelf,
Were fquander'd by thy fall ;
Yet having nothing in thyfelf,
Thy Hufband is thy all.
* Song vu 10. | CoL iu rc\
Chap. I. THE BELIEVER'S JOINTURE. 97
precepts, threats, may both befet
?o crave of thee their due ;
t juftice for thy double debt
Thy Hufband did purfue.
Though juftice flern as much belong
As mercy to a God ;
Yet juftice fuffer'd here no wrong,
Thy Hufhand's back was broad.
He bore the load of wrath alone,
That mercy might take vent ;
Heaven's pointed arrows all upon
Thy Hufoand's heart were fpent>
No partial pay could juftice ftill,
No farthing was retrench'd ;
Vengeance exacted all, until
Thy Hufband all advanc'd.
He paid, in liquid golden red,
Each mite the law requir'd,
Till with a loud 9 Th finijhed^
Thy Hufband' s breath expir'd.
No proc^fs more the law can tent ;
Thou it and' ft within its verge,
And may'ft with pleafure now present
Thy Hufband's full difcharge.
Though new contracted guilt beget
New fears of divine ire :
Yet fear thou not, though drown' d in debt,
Thy Hufband is the payer.
God might in rigour thee indite
Of higheft crimes and flaws :
But on thy head no curfe can light,
Thy Hufband is the caufe.
* John xix. 3a
08 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part II.
SECT. II. Chrift the believer's friend, prophet, priejl, king)
defence, guide, guard, help, and healer*
Dear, foul, when all the human race
Lay welt'ring in their gore,
Vaft numbers, in that difmal cafe,
Thy hufband paffed o'er.
But pray, why did he thoufands pafs,
And fet his heart on thee ?
The deep, the fearchlefs reafon was,
Thy Hufband's love is free.
The forms of favour, names of grace,
And offices of love,
He bears for thee, with open face
Thy Hufband's kindnefs prove.
'Gainft darknefs black, and error blind,
Thou haft a fun and Jhield ;f
And to reveal the Father's mind,
Thy Hufband's Prophet feal'd.
He likewife, to procure thy peace,
And fave from fin's arreft,
Rengn'd himfelf a facrifice ;
Thy Hufband is thy PrieJ.
And that he might thy will fubjeft,
And fweetly captive bring,
Thy fins fubdue, his throne erect,
Thy Hufband is thy King.
Though numerous and afTaulting f^es
Thy joyful peace may mar,
And thou a thoufand battles lofe,
Thy Hufband wins the war.
Hell's forces, which thy mind appal,
His arm can foon difpatch :
How flrong foe'er, yet for them all
Thy Hufband's more than match.
j; Pfalm kxxiv. II.
THE BELIEVERS JOINTURE. 99
Though fecret lulls, with hid conte-ft,
By heavy groans reveal' d,
And devils rage ; yet do their beft,
Thy Hufband keeps the field.
:ien, in defertion's evening dark,
Thy fleps are apt to flide,
His conduct feek, his counfel mark ;
Thy Hufband is thy guide.
In doubts, renouncing felf-conceit,
His word and Spirit jprize :
He never counfell'd wrong as yet,
Thy Hufband is fo wife.
When weak, thy refuge feeft at hand,
Yet cannot run the length ;
'Tis prefent power to underfland
Thy Hufoand is thy itrength.
When fhaking ftorms annoy thy heart,
His word commands a calm :
Of bleeding wounds to eafe the fmart,
Thy Hufband's blood is balm.
Truft creatures, nor to help thy thrall,
Nor to afluage thy grief:
Ufe means, but look beyond them all ;
Thy Hufband's thy relief.
If Heaven "prescribes a bitter drug,
Fret not with fro ward will ;
This carriage may thy cure prorogue ;
Thy Hufband wants not fkill.
He fees the fore, he knows the cure
Will mofl: adapted be ;
*Tis then mofl reafonable, fure,
Thy Hufband choofe for thee.
Triendfhip is in his chailifements,
And favour in his frowns ;
Thence judge not then in heavy plaints,
Thy Hufband thee difowns :
ioo GOSPEL SONNETS. Part II.
The deeper his fharp lancet go
In ripping up thy wound,
The more thy healing fhall unto
Thy Hufband's praife redound.
SECT. III. Chrtjl the believer's wonderful Phyfteian and
wealthy Friend.
Kind Jefus empties whom he'll fill,
Carts down whom he will raife ;
He quickens w T hom he feems to kill ;
Thy Hufband thus gets praife.
When awful rods are in his hand,
There's mercy in his mind ;
When clouds upon his brow do ftand,
Thy Hufband's heart is kind.
In various changes to and fro,
He'll ever conftant prove ;
Nor can his kindnefs come and go,
Thy Hufband's name is Love.
His friends in moft afHi&ed lot
His favour mufl have felt ;
For when they're try'd in furnace hot,
Thy Hufband's bowels melt.
When he his bride or wounds, or heals,
Heart kiadnefs does him move ;
And wraps in frowns as well as fmiles,
Thy Hufband's lafting love.
In's hand no cure could ever fail,
Though of a hopelefs ftate,
He can in defp'rate cafes heal,
Thy Hufband's art's fo great.
The medicine he did prepare,
Can't fail to work for good :
O balfam powerful, precious, rare,
Thy Hufband's facred blood ;
Chap. I. THE BELIEVER'S JOINTURE. 101
Which freely from his breached breaft
GimVd out like pent up fire.
His cures are beft, his wages lead,
Thy Huiband takes no hire.
Thou haft no worth, no might, no good,
His favour to procure :
But fee his (lore, his power, his blood i
Thy Hufband's never poor.
Himfclf he humbled wond'roufly _
Once to the lowed pitch, v
That bankrupts through his poverty
Thy Huiband might enrich.
His treaiiire is more excellent
Than hills of Opliir gcld^:
In telling Mores were ages fpest,
Thy Hufband's can't be told.
All things that fly on wings of fame,
Compat'd with theie are drofs ;
Thy fearcWefs rieiies in his name,
Thy Husband doth engrols.
The great Immanuel, God-man,
Includes fuch ftbre divine ;
Angels and iamts will never lean
. Thy Husband's golden mtn&
He's full of grace and truth* indeed,
Of Spirit^ merit, might;
Of all the wealth that bankrupts need
Thy Husband's heir by right.
Tho' ffcatf&s his throneii he came from thence,
To feel andfavs the loft ;§
Whatever be the vail expence,
Thy Husband's at the cod. ■• j
Pleas'd to expend each drop of blood
That fill'd his royal veins,
* John i. 14. t J ohl > "*• 34* 4 Ila * i3LV *' x * § ^uke xix * Ia
1 2
io2 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part II.
He frank the facred victim flood ;
Thy Husband fpar'd no pains.
His coft immenfe was in thy place;
Thy freedom coft his thrall ;
Thy glory coft him deep difgrace,
Thy Husband paid for all.
SECT. IV. The believer's fafety under the covert of Chri/Ps
atoning blood, and powerful inter cejfion.
When Heav'n proclaimed hot war and wrath,
And fin increas'd the ftrife ;
By rich obedience unto death,
Thy Husband bought thy life.
The charges could not be abridg'd,
But on thefe noble terms ;
Which all that prize, are hugg'd amidft
Thy Husband's folded arms.
When law condemns, and juftice too
To prifon would thee hale ;
As fureties kind for bankrupts do,
Thy Husband offers bail.
God on thefe terms is reconciled,
And thou his heart haft won :
In Chrift thou art his favour'd child, ,
Thy Husband is his Son.
Vindi&ive wrath is whole appeas'd,
Thou need not then be mov'd ;
In Jefus always he's well pleas' d>
Thy Husband's his Belov'd.*
What can be laid unto thy charge,
"When God does not condemn ?
Bills of complaint, though foes enlarge,
Thy Husband anfwers them.
When fear thy guilty mind confounds,
Full comfort this may yield ;
*Matth.iii. 17.
THE BELIEVER'S JOINTURE. 103
Thy ranfom bill with blood and wounds,
Thy Husband kind has feaPd.
His promife is the fair extract
Thou haft at hand to fliew ;
Stern juftice can no more exact,.
Thy Husband paid its due.
No terms he left thee to fulfil^
No clog to mar thy faith ;
His bond is • fignM, his latter will.
Thy Husband feal'd by death.
The great condition of the band
Of promife and of blifs,
Is wrought by him, and brought to hand
Thy Husband's righteoufnefs.
When therefore preiVd in time of need.
To me the promife good,
Thou haft no more to do but plead
Thy Husband's fealing blood.
This can thee more to God commend,
And cloudy wrath difpel,
Than e'er thy finning could, offend ;
Thy Husband vanquifh'd hell.
When vengeance feems, for broken laws,
To light on thee with dread ;
Let Chrift be umpire of thy caufe,
Thy Husband well can plead.
He pleads his righteoufnefs that brought
All rents the law could crave ;
Whate'er its precepts, threat'nings, fought,.
Thy Husband fully gave.
Did holinefs in precepts ftand,
And for perfection call,
Juftice in threat'nings death demand ?
Thy Husband gave it all.
His blood the fiery law did quench*
Its fummons need not fear ;
IC4 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part IL
Though 't cite thee to Heaven's awful bench,
Thy Husband's at the bar.
This Advocate has much to fay,
His clients need not fear ;
For God the Father hears him ay,
Thy Husband hath his ear.
A caufe fail'd never in his hand,
So ftrong his pleading is ;
His Father grants his whole demand,
Thy Husband's will is his.
Hell-forces all may rendezvous,
Accufers may combine ;
Yet fear thou not who art his fpoufe,
Thy Husband's caufe is thine.
By folemn oath Jehovah did
His priefthood ratify ;
Let earth and hell then counterplead,
Thy Husband gains the plea.
SECT- V. The Believer's Faith and Hope encouraged eve?i
in the darhejl nights of defertion and dijlrefs*
The cunning ferpent may accufe,
But never fliall fucceed ;
The God of peace ivUl Satan brulfe,
Thy Hufband broke his head.*
Hell furies threaten to devour,
Like lions robb'd of whelps :
But, lo ! in every pei'lcus hour,
Thy Hufband always helps.
That feeble faith may never fail,
Thine Advocate has pray'd ;
Though winnowing tempefts may a&iil,.
Thy Kufband's near to aid,
* Roir 4l xvi. %Q<
105
Though grievous trials grow apace,
And put thee to a ftand ;
Thou may'it rejoice in every cafe,
Thy HufbancPs help at hand.
Trull thou when in defertion dark,
No twinkling ftar by night,
No ray appear, no glimm'ring fpark ;
Thy Hufband is thy light.
His beams anon the clouds can rent,
And through the vapours run ;
For of the brighteft firmament,
Thy Hufband is the Sun.
IVithoui the Sun who mourning go 9
And fcarce the way can find,
He brings through paths they do not know. ;f
Thy Hufband leads the blind.
Through fire and water he with skill,
Brings to a wealthy land ;
Rude flames and roaring floods, be JIM,
Thy Hufband can command.
When fin diforders heavy brings,
That prefs thy foul with weight ;
Then mind how many eroded things
Thy Hufband has made fir alght.
Still look to him with longing eyes,
Though both thine eyes ihould fail ;
Cry, and at length, though not thy cries,
Thy Hufband fhall prevail.
Still hope for favour at his hand,
Though favour don't appear ;
When help feems moft aloof to ftand,
Thy Hufband's then moft near.
In cafes, hopelefs-like, faint hopes
May fail, and fears annoy ;
But moft when ftript of earthly props*
Thy Hufband thou'lt enjoy,
f Ifa. xliii. 19,
■
io6 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part II.
If providence the promiie thwart,
And yet thy humbled mind
'Gainfl hope betlepei in hope;* thou art,
Thy Husband's deareft friend.
Art thou a weakling, poor and faint,
In jeopardy each hour ?
Let not thy weaknefs move thy plaint,
Thy Husband has the power.
Dread not the foes that foil'd thee long,
Will ruin thee at length ;
When thou art weak, then art thou ftrong 5
Thy Husband is thy ftrength.
When foes are mighty, many too,
Don't fear, nor quit the field :
'Tis not with thee they have to do,
Thy Husband is thy fhield.
'Tis hard to fight againft an hoft,
Or drive againft the ftream ;
But lo ! when all feems to be loft,
Thy Husband will redeem.
SECT* VI. Benefits accruing to Believers, from the offices,
names t natures, and fiiffe rings of Uhriji.
Art thou by lufts a captive led,
Which breeds thy deepeft grief?
To ranfcm captives is his trade,
Thy Husband's thy relief.
His precious name is Jesus ; why ? *
Becaufe he faves from Jin : f
Redemption-right he won't deny,
Thy Husband's near of kin.
His wounds have fav'd thee once from woes,
His blood from vengeance fcreen'd ;
i When heaven, and earth, and hell were foes,
Thy Husband was a friend :
* Rom. vi, 1 3. f Matth. i. 22.
Chap. I. THE BELIEVER'S JOINTURE. 107
And will thy Captain now look on,
And fee thee trampled down ?
When lo ! thy Champion has the throne,
Thy Husband wears the crown.
Yield not, though cunning Satan bribe,
Or like a lion roar ;
The Lion ftrong of judah's tribe,
Thy Husband's to the fore.^
And that he net er nv ill for fake ^
His credit fair he pawn'd ;
In hotteft broils, then, courage take,
Thy Husband's at, thy hand.
No ftorm needs drive thee to a ftrait,
Who doll his aid invoke :
Fierce winds may blow, proud waves may beat ;
y Husband is the rock.
iunce thine own ability,
Lean to his promis'd might ;
The ftrength of Ifrael cannot lie,
Thy Husband's power is plight.
An awful truth does here prefent,
Whoever think it odd ;
In him thou art omnipotent,
Thy Husband is a God.
Jehovah's ftrength is in thy Head,
Which faith may boldly fcan ;
God in thy nature does refide,
Thy Husband is a man.
Thy flefh is his, his Spirit thine :
And that you both are one,
One body, fpirit, temple, vine,
Thy Husband deigns to own.
Kind he afTum'd thy flefh and blood
This union to purfue ;
And without fhame, his brotherhood
Thy Husband does avow.
f Hcb. xiii. 5.
to3 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part II.
He bore the crofs, thy crown to win,
His blood he freely fpilt ;
The holy One afluming fin,
Thy Husband bore the guilt.
Lo ! what a blefs'd exchange is this 1
What wifdom fhines therein !
That thou might'ft be made righteoufnefsy
Thy Husband was made fm.*
The God of joy a man of grief,
Thy forrows to difcufs ;
Pure innocence hang'd as a thief :
Thy Husband lov'd thee thus.
Bright beauty had his vifage marr'd,
His comely form abus'd :
True reft was from all reft debarr'd,
Thy Husband's heel was bruis'd.
The God of bleffings was a curfe,
The Lord of lords a drudge,
The heir of all things poor in purfe :
Thy Husband did not grudge.
The Judge of all condemned was,
The God immortal flain ;
No favour, in thy woful caufe,
Thy Husband did obtain.
SECT. VII. Chrifl *s Stiff brings further improved, and Be-
lievers called to live by Faith) both when they have and
nvant fenjlble influences.
Loud praifes ilng, without furceafe,
To him that frankly came,
And gave his foul a facrifice ;
Thy Husband was the Lamb.
What wakenM vengeance could denounce,
All round him did befet ;
And never left his foul, till once
Thy Husband paid the debt.
* % Cor, v.ai.
Chap. L THE BELIEVER'S JOINTURE. 109
And though new debt thou dill contract, .
And run in deep arrears ;
Yet all thy burdens on his back
Thy Husband always bears.
Thy Judge will ne'er demand of thee
Two payments for one debt ;
Thee with one victim wholly free
Thy Husband kindly fet.
That no grim vengeance might thee meet,
Thy Husband met with all ;
And, that thy foul may drink the Tweet,
Thy Husband drank the gall.
Full breafts of joy he loves t' extend,
Like to a kindly nurfe ;
And, that thy blifs might full be gain'd?
Thy Husband was a curfe*
Thy fins he glu'd unto the tree,
His blood this virtue hath ;
For, that thy heart to fin might die,
Thy Husband fuffered death.
To purchafe fully all thy good,
All evil him befel \
To win thy heaven, with dreams of bloo J,
Thy Husband quenched hell.
That this kind Days-man in one band
Might God and man betroth,
He on both parties lays his hand,
Thy Husband pleafes both.
The blood that could ftern juflice pleafe,
And law demands fulfil,
Can alfo guilty conscience eafe ;
Thy Husband clears the bill.
Thy highefl: glory is obtain' d
By his abafement deep ;
And that thy tears might all be dram'J,
Thy Husband chofe to weep.
K
no GOSPEL SONNETS. Part II.
His bondage all thy freedom bought,
He floop'd £o lowly down ;
His grappling all thy grandeur brought,
Thy Husband's crofs thy crown.
? Tis by his fhock thy fceptre fways,
His warfare ends thy flrife ;
His poverty thy wealth conveys,
Thy Hufband's death thy life.
Do mortal damps invade thy heart,
And deadnefs feize thee fore ;
Rejoice in this, that life t' impart
Thy Hufband has in (lore.
And when new life imparted feems
Eflablifh'd as a rock ;
Boaft in the fountain, not the dreams ;
Thy Husband is thy flock.
The ftreams may take a various turn,
The fountain never moves :
Ceafe then, o'er failing ftreams to mourn,
Thy Husband thus thee proves.
That glad thou may'ft, when drops are gone,
Joy in the fpacious fea :
When incomes fail, then ftill upon
Thy Husband keep thine eye.
But can't thou look, nor moan thy ftrait,
So dark's the difmal hour ?
Yet, as thou'rt able, cry and wait
Thy Husband's day of power.
Tell him, though fin prolong the term ?
Yet love can fcarce delay :
Thy want, his promife, all affirm,
Thy Husband muft not flay.
SECT. VIII. Chrijl the Believer's enriching Treafure*
Kind Jefus lives, thy life to be,
Who makeft him thy reftige ;
• HAP.
And, when he comes, thou'lt joy tc
Thy Husband (hall be judge.
Should paffing troubles thee annoy,
Without, within, or both ;
Since endlefs life thou'lt then enjoy,
Thy Husband pledg'd his troth.
What won't he, even in time, impart
That's for thy real good ?
He gave his love, he gave his heart,
Thy Husband gave his blood.
He gives himfelf, and what mould more ?
What can he then refufe ?
If this won't pleafe thee, ah ! how fore
Thy Husband doft abufe I
Earth's fruit, heav'n's dew he won't deny?
Whofe eyes thy need behold i
Nought under or above the £ky
Thy hufband will withhold.
Do loffes grieve ? Since all is thine,
What lofs can thee befal ?
All things for good to thee combine y *
Thy Hufband orders alL
Thou'rt not put off with barren leaves,
Or dung of earthly pelf;
More wealth than heav'n and earth he gives,
Thy Hulband's thine himfelf.
Thou haft enough to ftay thy plaint,
Elfe thou complain'ft of eafe ;
For, having all, don't fpeak of want,
Thy Hufband may fuffice.
From tliis thy ftore, believing, take
Wealth to the utmoft pitch :
The gold of Ophir cannot make,
Thy Hufband makes thee rich.
* Rom, viiL 38*
U2 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part II.
Some flying gains acquire by pains,
And fome by plund'ring toil ;
Such treafure fades, but thine remains,
Thy Hufpand's cannot fpoil.
SECT. IX. Chrtjl the Believer's adorning Garment.
Yea, thou excelPft in rich attire
The lamp that lights the globe ;
Thy fparkling garment heav'ns admire,
Thy Hufband is thy robe.
This raiment never waxeth old,
'Tis always new and clean ;
From fummer heat, and winter cold,
Thy Hufband can thee fcreen.
All who the name of worthies bore,
Since Adam was undreft,
No worth acquir'd, but as they wore
Thy Hufband's purple vefh
This linen fine can beautify
The foul with fin begirt ;
O blefs his name that e'er on thee
Thy Hufband fpread his fkirt.
Are dunghills deck'd with flowery glore,
Which Solomon's outvie i
Sure thine is infinitely more,
Thy Hufband decks the fky.
Thy hands could never work the drefs,
By grace alone thour't gay ;
Grace vents and reigns through righteoufnefs,
Thy Hufband's bright array.
To fpin thy robe no more doft need
Than lillies toil for theirs ;
Out of his bowels every thread
Thy Husband thine prepares.
Chap. £ THE BELIEVERS JOINTURE. 113
SECT. X. Chr'iji the Believer's foueet Nouri/hmenU
Thy food, conform to thine array,
Is heav'nly and divine ;
On paftures green, where angels playy
Thy husband feeds thee fine.
Angelic food may make thee fair,
And look with cheerful face ;
The bread of life, the double mare,
Thy Husband's love and grace..
What can he give or thou deiire,
More than his flefh and blood I
Let angels wonder, faints admire,
Thy Husband is thy food.
His flem the incarnation bears
From whence thy feeding flows j, %
His blood the f.tisfa&ion clears
Thy Husband both bellows*
Th' incarnate God a facrirlce
To turn the wrathful tide,
Is food for faith : that may fufEce
Thy Husband's guilty bride.
This ftrength'ning food may fit and fenccf
For work and war to come ;
Till through the cloud, forne moments hence*
Thy Husband bring thee home.
Where plenteous fe ailing will fucceed
To fcanty feeding here :
And joyful at the table head
Thy Husband fair -appear.
The crumbs to banquets will give place
And drops to rivers new :
While heart and eye will face to face
Thy Husband ever view,.
K 2
j i 4 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part IL
CHAP. II.
Containing the Marks and Chara&ers of the
Believer in Chrift ; together with fome far-
ther privileges and grounds of comfort to
the Saints.
SECT. I. Doubting Believers called to examine, by marks
drawn from their love to him and his prefence, their view
of his glory, and their being emptied of felf-righteoufnefs,
(Sfc. *
vjfOOD news ! but, fays the drooping bride,
Ah ! what's all this to me ?
Thou doubt'ft thy right when fhadows hide
Thy Husband's face from thee.
Through fin and guilt thy fpirit faints,
And trembling fears thy fate ;
But harbour not thy groundlefs plaints,
Thy Husband's advent wait.
Thou fob'ft, ** O were I fure he's mine,
This would give glad'ning eafe ?"
And fay'it, Though wants and woes combine^
Thy Husband would thee pleafe.
But up and down, and feldom clear*
Inclos'd with hellim routs ;
Yet yield thou not, nor fofter fear ;
T^hy Husband hates thy doubts.
Thy cries and tears may flighted feem 9
And barr'd from prefent eafe ;
Yet blame thyfelf, but never dream
Thy Husband's ill to pleafe.
Thy jealous unbelieving heart
Still droops, and knows not why ;
Then prove thyfelf to eafe thy fmart,
Thy Husband bids thee try.
II. THE BELIEVERS JOINTURE. 115
The following queftions puts to thee,
As fcripture marks may tell
And fhew,. whate'er thy failings be,
Thy Husband loves thee well.
MARKS*
Art thou content when he's away F
Can earth allay thy pants ?
If confcience witnefs, won't it fay,
Thy Husband's all thou wants?
When he is near, (though m a crofs,}
And thee with comfort feeds ;
Don: thou not count the earth as drofs.
Thy Husband all thou needs ?
In duties art thou pleas J d or pain'd,
When far he's out of view I
And finding him, think 'ft all regained,
Thy Husband always new.
Though once thou thought'ft, while Sinai miit
And darknefs compafs'd thee,
Thou waft undone ; and glorious Chrift
Thy Husband ne'er would be ;
Yet knoweft thou not a fairer place.
Of which it may be told,
That there the glory of his grace
Thy Husband did unfold ?
Where heav'nly beams inflam'd thy foul,.
And love's feraphic art,
With hallelujahs did extol
Thy Husband in thy heart.
Couldft then have wifh'd all Adam's race
Had join'd with thee to gaze ;
That viewing fond his comelv face,
Thy Husband might get praife ?
Art thou disjoined from other lords i
JDivorc'd from fed'ral laws ?
While with moft loving gofpel cords
Thy Husband kindly draws i
i iG GOSPEL SONNETS. Part IT.
An't thou enlighten'd now to fee
Thy righteoufnefs is naught
But rags,* that cannot. cover thee ?
Thy Husband fo has taught.
Doft fee thy beft performances
Deferve but hell indeed ?
And hence art led, renouncing thefe,
Thy Husband's blood to plead ?
When ftrengthen'd boldly to addrefs
That gracious throne of his,
Doft find thy ftrength and right eoufnefs ?
Thy Husband only is ?
Can ft thou thy moft exalted frame
Renounce, as withering grafs,
And firmly hold thine only claim
Thy Husband's wor'chinefs.
Canft pray with utmoft holy f pith,
And yet renounce thy good ?
And waih, not with thy tears, but with
Thy Husband's precious blood ?
SECT. II. Believers defcribed from their Faith a&ing by
divine ald } and fleeing quite out of thewfelves to ChrijL
Can nothing lefs thy confcience eafe, *
And pleafe thy heart ; no lefs
Than that which juftice fatisfies,
Thy Husband's righteoufnefs ?
Doft fee thy works fo ftain'd with fin,
That thou through grace art mov'd
To feek acceptance only in
Thy Husband, the belov'd.
Doft thou remind, that once a day
Free grace did ftrengthen thee, ,
To gift thy guilty foul away,
Thy Husband's bride to be ?
* Ifa. teiv, 6. f Vigour or Itrength.
:hap. II. THE BELIEVERS JOINTURE. 117
Or doft thou mind the day of power,
Wherein he broke thy pride,
And gain'd thy heart ? O happy hour
Thy Husband caught the bride !
He did thy enmity fubdue,
Thy bondage fad recal,
Made thee to choofe, and clofe purfue
Thy Husband as thy all.
What reft, and peace, and joy enili'd
Upon this noble choice ?
Thy heart, with flowers of pleafure ftrew'd,
Thy Husband made rejoice.
Doft know thou ne'er couldft him embrace*
Till he embraced thee ?
Nor ever fee him, till his face
Thy Husband open'd free ?
And findeft to this very hour,
That this is ftill the charm ;
Thou canft do nothing, till with power
. Thy Husband fhew his arm i
Canft thou do nought by nature, art,
Or any ftrength of thine,
Until thy wicked froward heart
Thy Husband fhall incline ?
But art thou, though without a wing
Of power aloft to flee,
Yet able to do every thing.
Thy Husband ftrength'ning thee ?
Doft not alone at duties fork,*
But foreign aid enjoy ?
And ftill in every piece of work
Thy Husband's ftrength employ ?
Thy motion heavenly is indeed,
While thou by faith doft move,
And ftill in every time of need
Thy Husband's grace improve*
* Labour, wreftle, or toil,
1 1 8 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part IL
No common natural faith can (hew
Its divine brood like this ;
Whofe object, author, feeder too*
Thy Husband only is.
Doft thou by faith on him rely ?
On him, not on thy faith ?
If faith fhall with its object vie,
Thy Husband's fet beneath.
Their hands receiving faculty
Poor beggars never view ;
But hold the royal gift in eye :
Thy Husband fo wilt thou.
Faith, like a gazing eye ne'er waits
To boaft in feeing powers ;
Its object views, itfelf forgets ;
Thy Husband it adores.
It humbly full itfelf denies, #
Nor brags its ads at all ^.
Deep plung ? d into its object: lies,
Thy Husband is its all.
No ftrength but his it has, and vaunts,.
No ftore but his can fhow :
Hence nothing has, yet nothing want3 5
Thy Husband trains it fo.
Faith, of its own, no might can fhew,
Elfe would itfelf deftroy. ,
But will, for all it has to do,
Thy Husband ftill employ.
Self-faviours none could ever be
By faith or grace of theirs ;
Their fruitlefs toil, fo high that flee*
Thy Husband's praife impairs.
The feemingly devoutePc deed,
That would with fhamelefs brow
His faving trade take o'er his head&
Thy Husband :won't allow.
:kap. II. THE BELIEVERS JOINTURE. »t$
* Doft therefore thou to him alone
Commit thy fmful foul ?
Knowing of thy falvation
Thy Husband is the whole.
SECT. III. Believers characlerifed by the oljeBs and pn^
rity of their dejire, delight, joy, hatred, and love, difcover*
ing they have the Spirit of Chrijl.
Dost thou his Spirit's conduct wait ?
And, when compar'd to this,
All worldly wifdom underrate ?
Thy Husband waits to blefs.
Tak'ft thou his Spirit for thy guide
Through Baca's valley dry,
Whofe ftreams of influences glide
Thy Husband's garden by ?
In digging wells here by his power
Doft find it not in vain,
While here a drop, and there a fhower,
Thy Husband makes to rain ?
Hence doft thou through each weary cafe,
From ftrength to ftrength go on,
Prom faith to faith, while grace for grace
Thy Husband gives anon ?
The good, the gracious work begun,
And furthered by his ftrength,
Shall profp'rous, though with wreftling, win
Thy Husband's crown at length.
Sin's power and prefence canft thou own
Is thy moil grievous fmart,
That makes thee fob, and weep alone ?
Thy Husband knows thy heart.
Does love to him make thee diftafte
Thy lufts with all their charms ?
And moft them loath'ft, when mod thou haft
Thy Husband in thine arms ?
120 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part. II.
Are cords of love the fweeteft ties
To bind thee duty-ways ?
And bed thou ferv'ft when moll thou fpies
Thy Husband's beauteous rays ?
Didft ever thou thy pardon read
In tears of untold joy ?
When mercy made thy heart to bleed,
Thy Husband was not coy.
Does pardon fweetly melt thy heart ?
^ And moil imbitter fin ?
And make thee long with drofs to part,
Thy Husband's throne to win ?
When he arifes lufts to kill,
Corruptions to deftroy,
Does gladnefs then thy fpirit fill ?
Thy Husband is thy joy.
Doft thou his perfon fair embrace
Beyond his bleflings all ?
'Sure, then, thou boldly mayft through grace
Thy Husband Jefus call.
What company doft thou prefer ?
What friends above the reft I ,
Of all relations every where,
Thy Husband is the beft.
Whom in the earth or heav'n doft thou
Moft ardently defire ?
Is love's afcending fpark unto
Thy Husband fet on fire ?
Haft thou a hatred to his foes,
And doft their courfe decline ?
ILov'ft thou his faints, and dar'ft fuppofe
Thy Husband's friends are thine ?
Doft thou their talk and walk efteem,
When moft divinely grave ;
And favour'ft beft when moft they {eem
Thy Husband's Spirit to have i
Chap.II. THE BELIEVER'S JOINTURE. 121
SECT. IV. Believers in Chrijl affeft his counfel, <word 9 or- '
dinances, appearance, full enjoyment in heaven, and fweet
prefence here*
Where go'ft thou firft when in a ftrait,
Or when with grief oppreft ?
Fleeft thou to him ? O happy gate,
Thy Husband is thy reft.
His counfel feek'ft thou ftill prepar'd,
Nor canft without him live \
Wifdom to guide, and ftrength to guard,
Thy Husband hath to give.
Canft thou produce no pleafant pawn,
Or token of his love ?
Won't fignets, bracelets, from his hand,
Thy Husband's kindnefs prove ?
Mind'ft when he fent his healing word,
Which, darting from on high,
Did light, and life, and joy afford ?
Thy Husband then was nigh.
Canft thou the promife fweet forget
He dropt into thy heart ?
Such glad'ning power and love with it*
Thy Husband did impart.
Doft thou affect "his dwelling place,
And mak'ft it thy repair ;
Becaufe thine eyes have feen, through grace,
Thy Husband's glory there ?
Doft love his great appearing day,
And thereon mufe with joy ;
When duiky fhades will fly away,
Thy Husband death deftroy i
Doft long ta fee his glorious face
Within the higher orb,
Where humid forrows lofing place,
Thy Husband's rays abforb i
122 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part IL
Long'ft to be free of ev'ry fault,
To bid all fin adieu ?
And mount the hill, where glad thou fhalt
Thy Husband's glory view ?
Life where it lives, love where it loves,
Will moft defire to be :
Such love fick longing plainly proves
Thy Husband's love to thee.
What is it bed can eafe thy plaint,
Spread morning o'er thine ev'n ?
Is his approach thine heart's content,
Thy Husband's prefence heav'n ?
And when deny'd this fweet relief,
Canft thou alfert full well,
His hiding is thy greateft grief,
Thy Husband's abfence hell ?
Let thy experience be difclos'd ;
If confcience anfwer Yea
To all the queries here propos'd,
Thy Husband's thine for ay.
Pertain thefe characters to thee?
Then, foul, begin and praife
His glorious worthy name, for he
Thy Husband is always.'
SECT. V. The true Believer's humility, dependence, %eal,
growth, admiration of free grace, and knowledge of Chrifi's
voice.
Perhaps a faint may figh and fay,
" I fear I'm yet to learn
4i Thefe marks of marriage love," yet ftay,
Thy Husband's bowels yearn.
Though darknefs may the light obfcure,
And florins furmount thy calms,
.Day yield to night, and thou be poor,
Thy Husband yet has alms.
Doft fee thyfelf an empty brat,
A poor unworthy thing,
With heart upon the daft laid flat?
Thy Husband there does reign*
Art in thine own efteern a bead,
And doft thyfelf abhor >
The more thou haft of felf diftafte,
Thy Husband loves thee more.
Can hell breed no fuch wicked elf,
As thou in thine own fight ?
Thou'ft got, to fee thy filthy felf, '
Thy Husband's pureft light.
Canft find no names fo black, fo vile,
With which thou wouldft compare,
But call' ft thyfelf a lump of hell I
Thy Husband calls thee fair.
When his kind vifits make thee fee
He's precious, thou art vile,
Then mark the hand of God with thee,
Thy Husband gives a fmile.
He knows what vifus fuit thy ftate,
And though mod rare they be,
It fets thee well on him to wait,
Thy Husband waits on thee.
Doft fee thou art both poor and weak*
And he both full and ftrong ?
O do not his delays miftake,
Thy Husband comes ere long.
Though during Sinai's ftormy ftay,
Thou dreadft the difmal blaft,
And fear'ft thou art a caft-away,
Thy Husband comes at laft.
The glorious Sun will rife apace,
And fpreacHiis healing wings,
In fparkling pomp of fovereign grace,
Thy Husband gladnefs brings.
124 GOSPEL SONNETS- Part II.
Canfl thou, whate'er fhculd come of thee,
Yetwilh his Zion well,
And joy in her profperity ?
Thy Husband loves thy zeal.
Dofl thou -admire his love to fome,
Though thou ihouldft never fharc i
Mercy to thee will alfo come,
Thy Husband hath to fpare.
Poor foul ! doll grieve for want of grace,
And weep for want of love,
And Jefus feek'fl ! O hopeful cafe !
Thy Hufband lives above.
Regretting much thy falling fhort,
Dofl after more afpire ?
There's hope in Ifrael for thy fort,
Thy Hufband's thy defire.
Art thou well pleas'd that fov'reign grace,
Through Chrift, exalted be ?
This frame denotes no hopelefs cafe,
Thy Hufband's. pleas'd with thee.
Cculdd love to be the footflool low
On which his throne might rife,
It's pompous grace around to (how?
Thy Husband does thee prize.
If but a glance of his fair face
Can cheer thee more than wine ;
Thou in his loving heart haft place,
Thy Hufband place in thine.
Dofl make his blood thy daily bath ?
His word and oath thy flay ?
His law of love thy lightfome path ?
Thy Hufband is thy way.
All things within earth's fpacious womb
Dofl but count lofs and dung,
For one fweet word in feafon from
Thy Hufband's learned tongue ?
Chap. II. THE BELIEVERS JOINTURE. i*$
Skill to difcern and know his voice,
From words of wit and art
Will clearly prove thou art his choice,
Thy Hufband thine in heart.
The pompous words that fops admire,
May vagrant fancy feaft ;
But with feraphic harmlefs fire
Thy Huiband's burn the breafl.
SECT. VI. True Believers are willing to be tried and ex~
amined. Comforts arifing to them from Chrlfrs ready f ap-
ply, real fympaihy, and relieving flames, fuiiing their needs.
Dost thou upon thy traitorous heart
Still keep a jealous eye ?'
Moft willing that thine inward part.
Thy Hufband firietly try l
The thieving croud will liate the light*
Left ftolen effects be mown ;
But truth d'efires what's wrong or right
Thy Hufband would make known.
Do ft then his trying word await,
His fearching doctrine love ?
Fond, left thou err through felf-deceit,
Thy Hufband would thee prove ?
Does oft thy mind with inward fmart
Bewail thy unbelief?
And confcious -fue-from plagues of heart:
Thy Hufband for relief?
Why doubt'ft his love? and yet, behold.
- With him thou would'ft not part
For thoufand thoufand earths of gold ;
Thy Hufband has thy heart.
Though darknefs, deadnefs, unbelief,
May all thy foul attend ;
Light, life, and faith's mature relief*
Thy Husband has to fend,
L 2
izG GOSPEL SONNETS. Part II.
Of wants annoying, why complain ?
Supply arifes hence ;
What gifts he has received for men,*
Thy Husband will difpenfe.
He got them in's exalted ftate
For rebels fuch as thou ;
All then that's needful, good or great,
Thy Husband will allow.
Thy wants he fees, thy cries he hears ;
And, marking all thy moans,
He in his bottle keeps thy tears,
Thy Husband notes thy groans.
All thine infirmities him touch,
They ftrike his feeling heart ;
His kindly fympathy is fuch,
Thy Husband finds the fmart.
Whatever touches thee affects .
The apple of his eye ;
Whatever harms he therefore checks,
Thy Husband's aid is nigh.
If foes are fpar'd thy need is fuch,
He flays them but in part :
He can do all, and will do much,
Thy Husband a6ls by art.
He often for the faddeft hour
Refer ves the fw T eeteft aid :
See how fuch banners heretofore
Thy Husband has difplay'd.
Mind where he vouched his good will,
Sometimes at Hermonf mount,
In Jordan land, at Mizar hill ;
Thy Husband keeps the count.
At fundry times and divers ways,
To fuit thy various frames,
Has feen, like rifing golden rays,
Thy Husband's various names.
* Pfalro lxviii. 18. f Pfalm xlii. 6.
:hap. II. THE BELIEVERS JOINTURE,
When guilty conscience ghaftly ftar'd,
jEHOVAH-TSIDKENU,f
The Lord thy righteoufnefs appear' J*
Thy Husband in thy view.
When in thy ftraits or wants extreme,
Help failed on ev'ry fide,
Jehovah-jirahJ was his name,
Thy Husband did provide.
When thy long abfent Lord didft moan*
And to his courts repair ;
Then was Jehovah-shammah$ known*
Thy Husband prefent there.
When thy affaulting foes appear'd
In robes of terror clad,
Jehovah-nissi^J then was rear'd,
Thy Husband's banner fpread.
When furies arm'd with fright'ning guilt*
Dunn'd war without furceafe ;
Jehovah-shalom* then was built.
Thy Husband fent thee peace.
When thy difeafes death proclaim'd*
And creature balfams fail'd,
jEHovAH-ROPHif then was fram'd %
Thy Husband kindly heal'd.
Thus, as thy various needs require,
In various modes like thefe,
The help that fuits thy heart's defire*
Thy Husband's name conveys.
Ta the little jlock, as cafes vary*
The great Jehovah fhews
Himfelf a little fanEluary ,%
Thy Husband gives the views*
f Jer. xxiii. 6. % Gen. xxii. 14. 5 Ezek. xlviii. $£
% Exod. xvii. 15. * Judg. vL 24. | Exodus xv. 26*
\ Ezekiel xi. 16.
128 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part II.
SECT. VII. The Believer's experience of ChriJ's comfort-
able prefence, or of former comforts, to be improved for his
-encouragement andfupport under darhnefs and hidings.
Dost mind the place, the fpot of land,
Where Jefus did thee meet ?
And how he got thy heart and hand \
. Thy Husband then was fweet.
Boft mind the garden, chamber, bank,
A vaje of viilon feem'd ?
The joy was full, thy heart was frank,
Thy Husband much efteem'd.
Let thy experience fweet declare,
If able to remind ;
A Bochim here, a Bethel there,
Thy Husband made thee find.
Was fuch a corner, fuch a place*
A paradife to thee,
A Peniel, where fice to face
Thy Hufband fair didft fee ?
There did he clear thy cloudy caufe,
Thy doubts and fears deftroy ;
And on thy fpirit feal'd he was
Thy HufDand with great joy.
CoulcPft thou have faid it boldly then,
And feaPd it with thy blood ?
Yea, welcome death with pleafure, whett
Thy Hufband by thee flood.
That earth again fhould thee infnare,
O how thy heart was pain'd !
For all its fading glory there
Thy Hufband's beauty flain'dv
The thoughts of living more in fin
Were then like hell to thee ;
The life of heav'n did thus begin ?
Thy Hufband fet thee free,
Chap. II. THE BELIEVER'S JOINTURE. 129
Whate'er thou foundft him at thy belt,
He's at thy worft the fame ;
And in his love nvill enter rejl,
Thy Hufband holds his claim.
Let faith thefe vifits keep In ftore.
Though fenfe the pleafure mifs 5
The God of Bethel, as before,
Thy Hufband always is.
In measuring his approaches kind,
And timing his defcents ;
In free and fov'reign ways thou'lt find
Thy Hufband thee prevents.
Prefcribe not to him in thy heart,
He's infinitely wife.
How oft he throws his loving dart,
Thy Hufband does furprife.
Perhaps a fudden gale thee bleft,
While walking in thy road,
Or on a journey, ere thou will,
Thy Hufband look'd thee broad.
Thus was the eunuch farrrd (his ftage
A riding on the way,
As he revolv'd the facred page*)
Thy Hufband's happy prey.
In hearing, reading, finging, prayer,
When darknefs compafs'd thee,
Thou found'ft, or e'er thou waft aware,
Thy Hufband's light'ning free.
Of heav'nly gales don't meanly think ;
For, though thy foul complains,
They're but a fhort and paffing blink 5
Thy Hufband's love remains.
Think not, though breezes hafte away,
Thou doft his favour lofe ;
But learn to know his fov'reign way ;
Thy Hufband comes and goes.
* Acts "riii. 27 — 39.
130 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part II.
Don't fay he's gone for ever, though
His vifits he adjourn ;
For yet a little while, and lo,
Thy Hufband will return.
In worfhip focial, or retir'd,
Doft thou his abfence wail ?
. Wait at his fhore, and be not fear'd,
Thy Hufband's fhip's a fail.
Yea, though in duties fenfe may mifs
Thy foul's beloved one ;
Yet do not faint, for never is
Thy Hufband wholly gone.
Though Satan, fin, earth, hell at once
Would thee of joy bereave :
Mind what he faid, he won't renounce,
Thy Husband will not leave.
Though foes a/Tail, and friendship fail,
Thou haft a friend at court :
The gates of hell fhall ne'er prevail,
Thy Husband is thy fort.
SECT. VIII. Comfort to Believers from the ftalility of the
firomife, notwithjlanding heavy chojlifements for fin*
Take well howe'er kind Wifdom may
Difpofe thy prefent lot ;
Though heav'n and earth fhould pafs away,
Thy Husband's love will not.
All needful help he will afford,
Thou haft his vow and oath ;
And once to violate his word
Thy Husband will be loth.
To fire and floods with thee he'll down,
His promife this infures,
Whofe credit cannot burn nor drown i
Thy Husband's truth endures.
Chap. II. THE BELIEVER'S JOINTURE. 131
Doft thou no more his word believe,
As mortal man's, forfooth ?
O do not thus his Spirit grieve,
Thy Husband is the Truth.
Though thou both wicked art and weak,
His word he'll never rue ;
Tho' heav'n and earth mould bend and break,
Thy Husband will be true.
I'll never leave thee,* is his vow ;
If Truth has faid the word.
While Truth is truth, this word is true,
Thy Husband is the Lord.
Thy covenant of duties may
Prove daily moft uniiire :
His covenant of grace for ay
Thy Husband does fecure.
Doft thou to him thy promife break,
And fear he break to thee ?
Nay, not thy thoufand crimes can make
Thy Husband once to lie.
He vlfit wiltlhy Jtns nvlthjlrokes^
And lift his heavy hand ;
But never once his word revokes,
Thy Husband's truth will ftand.
Then dream not he is chang'd in love,
When thou art chang'd in frame \
Thou may ft by turns unnumber'd move,
Thy Husband's ay the fame.
He for thy follies may thee bind
With cords of great diftrefs ;
To make thee moan thy fins, and mind
Tby Husband's holinefs.
By wounds he makes thee feek his cure,
By frowns his favour prize ;
By falls affrighting, ftand more fure,
Thy Husband is fo wife.
* .. *Jieb. xiii. 5,
ij* GOSPEL SONNETS. Part II.
Proud Peter in the dirt of vice
Fell down exceeding, low ;
His tow'ring pride, by tumbling thiice,
Thy Hufband cured fo.
Before he fuffer pride that fwells,
He'll drag thee through the mire
Of fins, temptations, little hells ;
Thy Hufband faves by fire.
He in afHi<5Hon's mortar may
Squeeze out old Adam's juice,
Till thou return to him, and fay,
Thy Hufband is thy choice.
•Fierce billows may thy veffel tofs,
And croffes curfes feem ;
But that the curfe has fled the crofs,
Thy Hufband bids thee deem.
Conclude not he in wrath difowns,
When trouble thee furrounds ;
Thefe are his favourable frowns,
Thy Hufband's healing wounds.
Yea, when he gives the deepeft lafh,
Love leads the wounding hand ;
His ftroke, when fin has got a dafh,
Thy Hufband will remand.
.SECT. IX. Comfort to Believers, in ChriJPs relations in
his dying love, his glory in heaven, to which he will lead
them through death, and fupply with all necejfaries by the
way*
Behold the patrimony broad
That falls to thee by line ;
In him thou art an heir of God,
Thy Hufband's Father's thine.
He is of relatives a flore,
Thy Friend will help in thrall;
Thy Brother much, thy Father more^
Thy Hufband moft of all
Chap. II. THE BELIEVER'S JOINTURE. 133
All thefe he does amafs and fliare,
In ways that moll excel :
*Mong all the hufbands ever were,
Thy Hufband bears the bell.
Whence run the ftreams of all thy good,
But fiom his pierced fide ?
With liquid gold of precious blood
Thy Hufband bought his bride.
His blood abundant value bore,
To make his purchafe broad*
5 Twas fair divinity in gore,
Thy Huiband is thy God.
Who purchas'd at the highefl; price,
Be crown'd with higheft praife 5
For in the higheft paradife
Thy HufDand wears the bays.
He is of Heav'n the comely rofe,
His beauty makes it fair ■;.
Heav'n were but hell, couldft thou fuppofe
Thy Hufband were not there.
He thither did in pomp aicend,
His fpoufe along to bring :
Then Hallelujahs without end,
Thy Hufband's bride may ling.
Ev'n there, with him for ever fix'd,
His glory fhalt thou fee ;
And nought but death is now betwixt
Thy Hufband' s throne and thee.
He'll order death, that porter rude, ,
To ope the gates of brafs ;
For lo ! with characters of blood,
Thy Hufband wrote thy pafs.
At Jordan deep then be not fcar'd,
Though difmal like and broad ;
Thy fun will guide, thy fhield will guard?
Thy Huiband pav'd the road*
M
i H GOSPEL SONNETS. Part IL
He'll lead thee fafe, and bring thee home.
And (till let bleffings fall
Of grace while here, till glory come :
Thy Hufband's bound for all.
His ftore can anfwer ev'ry bill,
Thy food and raiment's bought;
Be at his will, thou'lt have thy fill,
Thy Hufband wants for nought.
What can thy foul conceive it lacks ?
His ftore, his power is thine ;
His liberal heart to lib'ral acts,
Thy Hufband does incline.
Though on thy hand, that has no might,
He fhould thy tafk enlarge ;
Nor work nor warfare needs thee fright,
Thy Hufband bears the charge.
Thou wouldft {if left) thyfelf undo,
So apt to fall and ftray ;
But he uplifts and leads thee too :
Thy Hufband knows the way.
SECT. X. Comfort to Believers from the text, Thy Maker
is thy Hufband, inverted thus, Thy Hufband is thy Maker ;
and the conclufion of this fubjecl.
Of light and life, of grace and glore,
In Chrift thou art partaker ;
Rejoice in him for evermore,
Thy Husband is thy Maker.
He made thee, yea, made thee his bride,*
Nor heeds thine ugly patch ,
To what he made he'll (till abide,
Thy Husband made the match.
He made all ; yea, he made all thine.
All to thee fhall be given.
Who can thy kingdom undermine ?
Thy Husband made the heav'n*
"hap. II. THE BELIEVER'S JOINTURE. 135
What earthly things can thee annoy ?
He made the earth to he ;
waters cannot thee deftroy,
Thy Husband made the fea.
>n't fear the flaming element
Thee hurt with burning ire ;
Or that the fcorching heat torment s
Thy Husband made the fire.
Infectious ftreams ftiall ne'er deftroy
While he rs pleas'd to fpare ;
Thou fhalt thy vital breath enjoy,
Thy Husband made the air.
The fun that guides the golden day y
The moon that rules the night,
The ftarry frame, the milky way,
Thy Husband made for light.
The bird that wings its airy path,
The fifh that cuts the flood,
The creeping croud that fwarms beneath,*
Thy Husband made for good.
The grazing herd, the beafts of prey,
The creatures great and* fmall,
For thy behoof their tribute pay,
Thy Husband made them alL
TliniG's Paul, Apoilos, life, and death,
Things prefent, things to be ;
And ev 7 ry thing that being hath,
Thy Husband made for thee.
In Tophet of the damn'd's refort
Thy foul ihall never dwell, ~
Nor needs from thence imagine hurt,
Thy Husband formed hell.
Satan, with inftruments of his,
May rage ? yet dread no evil 5
136 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part II.
So far as he a creature is,
Thy Husbanci^nade the devil.
His black temptations may afflict,
His fiery darts annoy ;
But all his works, and hellifh trick,
Thj- Husband will deftrof »
Let armies flxong of earthly gods
Combine with hellifh ghofts,
They live, or languifh, at his nods ;
Thy Husband's Lord of hofts.
What can thee hurt ? whom doll thou fear ?
All things are at his call.
Thy Maker is thy Husband dear,
Thy Husband -all in all.
What doll thou feek ? what doft thou want ?
He'll thy defires fulfil ?
He gave himfelf, what won't he grant ?
Thy Husband's at thy will.
The more thou doll of him defire,
The more he loves to give :
High let thy mounting arms afpire,
Thy Husband gives thee leave.
Th3 lefs thou feek'il, the lefs thou dofl
His bounty fet on high ;
But higher feekers here do moft
Thy Husband glorify.
Wouldft thou have grace ? Well ; but 'tis meet
He mould more glory gain.
Wouldft thou have Father, Son, and Spirit ?
Thy Husband fays, Amen.
He'll kindly a£ the lib'ral God,
Devifing lib'ral things ;
With royal gifts his fubje&s load ;
Thy Husband's King of kings.
Chap.IL THE BELIEVER'S JOINTURE. 137
No earthly monarchs have fuch ftore
As thou haft ev'n in hand ;
But, O how infinitely more ■
Thy Husband gives on band !
Thou hart indeed the better part,
The part will fail thee never :
Thy Husband's hand, thy Husband's heart*
Thy Husband's all for ever.
END OF THE POEM UPON ISAIAH Hv. £*
Wt 2
( *3» )
GOSPEL SONNETS.
PART III.
THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE.
OR, THE
MYSTERY OF FAITH.
THE PREFACE,
SHEWING THE USE AND DESIGN OF THE RIDDLE.
J&EADER, theibllowing enigmatic fong,
Does not to wifeft nat'ralifts belong :
Their wifdom is but folly on this head :
They here may ruminate, but cannot read.
For tho' they glance the lines, the meaning chokes,
They read the words, but not the paradox.
The fubjed will, howe'er the phrafe be blunt,
Their moft acute intelligence furmount,
If with the natural and acquired fight
They fhare not divine evangelic light.
Great wits may roufe their fancies, rack their brains^
And after all their labour, lofe their pains ;
Their wifeft comments were but witlefs chat,
Urmrjt to frame an explication pat.
No unregen'rate mortal's belt engines
Can right unriddle thefe few rugged lines ;
Nor any proper notions thereof reach,
Though fublimated to the highefl; ftreteh.
THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. r 39
Mailers of reafon, plodding men of fenfe,
Who fcorn to mortify their vain pretence,
In this myderious deep might plod their fill ;
It overtops the top of all their fkill. V
The more they vainly huff, and fcorn to read,
The more it does their foolifh wi£ exceed.
Thofe miners that are fanctified in part,
May read this Riddle truly in their heart.
Yea, weakeft faints may feel its trued fenfe.
Both in their fad and fweet experience.
Don't overlook it with a rambling view,
And raih fuppofe it neither good nor true.
Let Heaven's pure oracles the truth decide 3
Renounce it, if it can't that ted abide.
Noble Bereaiis foon the fenfe may hit,
Who found the divine depth of facred writ,
Not by what airy carnal reafon faith,
But by the golden line of heaven fpun faith.
Let not the naughty phrafe make you difprove
The weighty matter which deferves your love.
High drains would fpoil the Riddle's grand intent,
To teach the weaked, mod illit'rate faint,
That Mahanaim is his proper name ;
In whom two draggling hods make bloody game.
That fuch may know, whofe knowledge is but rude>
How good confids with ill, and ill with good.
That faints be neither at their word nor bed,
Too much exalted, or too much depreft*
This paradox is fitted to difclofe
The fkill of Z ion's friends above her foes ;
To difference, by light that Heaven tranfmits,.
Some happy fools from miferable wits.
And thus (if blefs'd) it may in fome degree
Make fools their wit, and wits their folly fee.
Slight not the Riddle then with jargon vile,
Becaufe not garni m'd with a pompous dile.
Could th' author act the lofty poets part
Who make their fonnets foar on wings of art,
He on this theme had blufh'd to ufe his fkill,
And either dipt his wings, or broke his quilL
i 4 o GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III.
Why, thus enigma climbs fuch divine heights,
As fcorn to be adorn'd with human flights.
Thefe gaudy drains would lovely truth difgrace,
As pureft paint deforms a comely face.
Heav'n's myfteries are above art's ornament,
Immenfely brighter than its brighter]; paint.
No tow'ring lit'rature could e'er outwit
The plaineft diction fetch'd from facred writ,
By which mere blazing rhet'ric is outdone,
As twinkling ftars are by the radiant fun.
The foaring orators, who can with eafe
Strain the quinteffence of hyperboles^
And clothe the bareft theme with pureft drefs,
Might here expatiate much, yet fay the lefs,
If w' th' majeftical fimplicity
Of fcripture orat'ry they difagree.
Thefe lines pretend not to affecl: the Iky,
Content among inglorious fliades to lie,
Provided facred truth be fitly clad,
Or glorious lliine ev'n through the dufky (hade.
Mark then, though you fhould mifs the gilded firahl.
If they a flore of golden truth contain :
Nor underrate a jewel rare and prime,
Though wrapt up in the rags of homely rhime.
Though haughty Deifts hardly ftoop to fay,
That nature's night has need of fcripture day :
Yet gofpel light alone will clearly fhew
How ev'ry fentence here is juft and true,
Expel the fliades that may the mind involve,
And foon the feeming contradiction folve.
All fatal errors in the world proceed
From want of ikill fuch myfteries to read.
Vain men the double branch of truth divide,
Hold by the one, and flight the other ride.
Hence proud Arminians cannot reconcile
Freedom of grace with freedom of the wilU
The blinded Papift won't difcern nor fee
How works are good, unlefs they juftify*
Thus Legalifts diftinguifli not the odds
Between their home-bred righteoufnefs ajad Go-d'sv
Part III. THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 14*
Antinomifts the faints' perfeaion plead,
Nor duly fever 'tween them and their head.
Socinians won't thefe feeming odds agree,
How heaven is bought, and yet falvation free.
Bold Arians hate to reconcile or fcan,
How Chrift is truly God and truly man :
Holding the one part of Immanuel's name,
The other part oittrageoufly blafpheme.
The found in faith no part of truth controul :
Heretics own the half, but not the whole. •
Keep then the facred myfl'ry ftill entire ;
To both the fides of truth do favour, bear,
Not quitting one to hold the other branch ;
JBut paffing judgment on an equal bench ;
The riddle has two feet, and were but one
Cut off, truth falling to the ground were gone.
'Tis all a contradiction, jet all true,
And happy truth, if verify' d in you.
Go forward then to read the lines, but flay
To read the Riddle alfo by the way,
142 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part IIL
SECT. I. The My fiery of the Saint's Pedigree^ and cfpe-
dally of (heir relation to ChrijVs wonderful perfon*
My lift's a maze of fecrmng traps, a
A fcene of miferies and ninhaps \b
A heap of jarring to and froes,<r
A field of joys, a flood of woes.*/
I'm in mine own and others eyes>
A labyrinth of myfteries. e
I'm fomething that from nothing came,/
Yet fure it is, I nothing am. g
a Jofh. xxii, 13, And Jofhua faid, Know for a certainty, tha^
the Lord your God will no more drive out any of thefe nation*
from before you; but they {hall be fnares and traps unto you,
and fcourges in your fides, and thorns in your eyes, &c. Pfalm
cxxiv. 7, Our foul is eicaped as a bird out of the fnare of the
fowlers ; the fnare is broken, and we are efcaped.
b Or miferies. Lam. iii. 1 9, Remembering mine affiielion and my
mifery, the wormwood and the gall. v. 22, It is of the Lord's
mercies that we are not cenfunied, becaufe his companions fail
not. Pfalm ci. 1, I will fing of mercy and judgment : unto thee,
O Lord, will I fing.
€ Pfalm cii. 10, Thou hall: lifted me up, and caft me down.
Pfalm cix, 23, I am tolTed up and down as the locuft.
d Hab. iii. 17, 18, Although the fig-tree {hall not bloffom, nei-
ther {hall fruit be in the vines, the labour of the olive {hail fail*
6nd the fields {hall yield no meat, the flocks {hall be cut off from
the fold, and there {hall be no herd in the flails ; yet will I re-
joice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my falvation.
<rjia. viii. 18, Behold I and the children whom the Lord hath
given me, are for figns, and for wonders in Ifrael ; from the Lord
of hofts, which dwelleth in mount Zion. Zech. iii. 8, Hear now,
O Jofhua, the high prieft, thou and thy fellows that fit before
thee : for they are men wondered at, &c. Pfalm lxxi. 7, 1 am as
a wonder unto many, but thou art my ftrong refuge.
f Gen. i. 1, In the beginning God created the heaven and the
earth. Heb. xi. 3, Through faith we underftand that the worlds
were framed by the word of God, fo that things which are feen
were not made of things which do appear.
g Ifa. xl. 17, All nations before him are as nothing, and they
are accounted to him lefs than nothing and vanity. Dan. iv. 2>5%-
All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothings
5ect. I. THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE, r 4 j
Once I was dead, and blind, and lame, A
Yea, I continue dill the feme ;i
Yet what I was, I am no more, k
Nor ever fhall be as before./
My Father lives, m my father's gone, a
My vital head both loft and won. o
My parents cruel are and kind,^
Of one, and of a diff 'rent mind* q
h Eph. ii. i. And you hath lie quickened, who were dead m
-irefpafles and fins. Rev. iii. 17, Becaufe thou fayeft, I am rich, and
increafed in goods, and have need of nothing; and knoweft not
that thou art wretched, and mlferable, and poor, and blind, and
naked. Ifa. xxxv. 6, Then fhall the lame man leap as an hart,
and the tongue of the dumb ling; for in the wildernefs fhall wa-
ters break out, and ftrearas in the defert.
i Rom. vii. 14, For we know that the law is fpiritual : but I
am carnal, fold under fin. y P 24, O wretched man that I am, who
ihall deliver me from the body of this death ?
k Rom. vli. 17, Now then, it is no moie I that do it, but fin
that dwelleth in me. <y. 20, Now if I do that I would not, it is no
more I that do it, but fin that dwelleth in me. John ix. 25, He
(the blind man) anfwered and laid, Whether he be a finner, or
no, I know not ; one thing I know, that whereas I was blind, now
I fee.
/ Rom. xi. 29, For the gifts and -calling of God are without re-
pentance, Jer. fxxii. 40, And I will make an everlafting cove-
nant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them
geod ; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they fhall not
depart from me.
m Ifa._ix. 6, His name fhall be called, The everlafting Father.
Rev. i, 18, I am he that liveth, and was dead ; and behold, I as*
alive for evermore. Amen.
n Hof. xiv. 3, In thee the fatherlefs findeth mercy. Zech. i. 5,
Your fathers where are they ? ... and the prophets, do they live for
ever ?
o 1 Cor. xv. 45, It is written, The fir ft man Adam was made a
living foul, the laft Adam was made a quickening fpirit.
p Pfalm ciii. 13, Like as a father pitieth his children ; fo the
Lord pitieth them that fear him. Ifa. xliii. 27, Thy firft father
hath finned, and thy teachers have tranfgrefTed againft me.
q Job xxiii. 13, But he is in one mind, and who can turn him ?
and what his foul delireth, even that he doth. Rom. viii. 5, For
they that are after the flefE, do mind the things of the flefh ; but
they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit, v. 7, Be-
caufe the carnal mind is enmity againft God ; for it is not Subject
to the law of God, neither indeed can be,
i 4 4 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III.
My father poifon'd me to death, r
My mother's hand will flop my breath \f
Her womb, that once my fubftance gave,
Will very quickly be my grave, s
My fillers all my flefh will eat,£
My brethren tread me under feet ; u
My nearer! friends are moft unkind, v
My greatett foe's my greater!: friend, w
He could from feud to friendfnip pafs,
Yefc never change from what he was. x
y R.om. v. iz, Wherefore, as by one man fin entered into the
world, and death by fin : and fo death paffed upon all men ; for
that ah have finned.
/Gen. iii. 16, TJr^o the woman he faid, I will greatly multiply
thy forrow, and thy conception : in farrow thou fhalt bring forth
children, &c.
s Pfalm cxlvi. 4, His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his
earth ; in that very day his thoughts perifli. Eccl. ii. 20, All go
tnto one place, all are of the duft, and all turn to duft: again.
/ Job xvii. 14, I have faid to corruption, Thou art my father;
to the worm, Thou art my mother and my lifter. Chap. xix. 26,
And though after my Ikin worms deftroy this body, yet in my
flefli ihall I fee Cod.
u Even in a moral fenfe, Jer. xii. io, Many paftors have defcroy-
cd my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they
have made my pleafant portion a defolate wildernefs. Ezek. xxxiv.
18, Seemeth it a fmall thing unto you, to have eaten up the good
pafture, but ye mull tread down with your feet the refidue of your
paftures ? and to have drunk of the deep waters, but ye muflfoul
the refidue with your feet ?
<u Pfalm Iv. 12, 13, For it was not an enemy that reproached
me, then I could have borne it ; neither was it he that hated me,
that did magnify himfelf againft me, then I would have hid my-
felf from him. But it was thou, a man, mine equal, my guide, and
mine acquaintance. Mic. vii. 5, 6, Truft ye not in a friend, put
ye not confidence in a guide ; keep the doors of thy mouth from
her that lieth in thybofom. For the fon difhonoureth the father,
the daughter rifeth up again ft the mother, the daughter-in-law
againft her mother-in-law ; a man's enemies are the men of his
own houfe.
w Pfalm vii. 11, God is angry with the wicked every day. %
Cor. v, 19, God was in Chri ft, reconciling the world unto himfelf,
not imputing their trefpafTes unto them.
se Mai. iii. 1 6, For I am the Lord, I change not ; therefore ye
fens of Jacob are not confumed. Hof. xiv. 4, I will heal their
foackfliding, I will love them freely ; for mine anger is turned
away from him.
Sect. I. THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 145
He is my Father, he alone,
Who is my Father's only Son. y
I am his mother's fon, % yet more,
A fon his mothers never bore,
But born of him, b and yet aver
His Father's fons my mother's were.£
I am divorc'd, yet marry 'd ftill, d
With full .confent agalnft my will, e
My hufband prefent is,/ yet gone, g
We differ much, yet itili are one. k
He is the fir ft, the laft, the all, 1
Yet number' d up with infers fmall. k
y John xx. 17, Jefus faith unto her [Mary,] Touch me not : for
I am not yet afcended unto my Father: but go to my brethren,
and fay unto them, I afcend unto my Father and your Father, and
to my God and your God. Ifa. ix. 6, Unto us a Son is given :
and his name fhall be called, the everlafting Father. John i. 14,
And the'Word was made ftefh, and dwelt among us (and we be-
held his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father)
full of grace and truth.
•z Song iii. 4, It was but a little that I panned from them, but I
found him whom my foul loveth : 1 held him, and would not let
liim go, until I had brought him into my mother's houfe, and into
the chamber of her that conceived me. i>. 11, Go forth, O ye
daughters of Zion, and behold king Solomon with the crown
wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his efpoufals,
and in the day of the gladnefs of his heart.
a 'viz. His natural mother according to the flefh.
b John i. 13, Which were born not of blood, nor of the will of
the fleih, nor of the will of man, but of God.
c Gal. iv. a6, But Jerufalem which is above 5 is free, which is the
mother of us all.
d Rom. vii. 4, Wherefore, my brethren, ye alfo are become dead
to the law by the body of Chrilt ; and that ye iliould be married
to another, even to him who is raifed from the dead.
e Pfalm ex. 3, Thy people {hall be willing in the day of thy
power.
/ Matth. xxviii. 20, Lo, I am with you always, even unto the
end of the world.
g John xiv. a, I go to prepare a place for you.
b John xvii. ai, That they all may be one, as thou, Father, art
in me, and I in thee ; that they alfo may be one in us.
? Rev. i, ir, I am Alpha and Omega, the Urft and the laft. CoL
iii. 11, Chrift is all and in all.
k Pfalra xxii. 6, But I am a worm, and no mau,
N
*4S GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III.
The firft of all things, / yet alone,
The fecond of the great Three-one. m
A creature never could he be,
Yet is a creature ftrange I fee ; n
And own this uncreated one,
The fon of man, yet no man's fon. o
He's omniprefent all may know ; p
Yet never could be wholly fo. q
His manhood is not here and there, r
Yet he is God-man ev'ry where./
/ Col. i. 15, 16, Who is the image of the invifible God, the firfl:
born of every creature : for by him were all things created that
are in heaven, and that are in earth, vifible and invifible, whether
they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers : all
things were created by him, and for him.
m 1 John v. 7, For there are three that bear record in heaven,
the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghofl : and thefe three are
one. Matth. xxviii. 18, Go ye therefore and teach all nations, bap-
tifing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Ghoft.
n John i. z, 3, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word
was with God, and the Word was God. The fame was in the be-
ginning with God. All things were made by him, and without
him was not any thing made that was made, w, 14, And the
Word was made flefh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glo-
ry, the glory of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and
truth.
Matth. i. 23, Behold a virgin fhall be with child, and fhall
bring forth a fon, and they fhall call his name Emmanuel, which
being interpreted is, God with us. JLuke i. 34, 35, Then faid Mary
unto the angel, How fhall this be, feeing I know not a man ? And
the angel anfwered and faid unto her, The Holy Ghoft fhall come
upon thee, and the power of the Higheft fhall overfhadow thee ;
therefore alfo that Holy thing which fhall be born of thee fhall
be called the Son of God.
p Pfalm exxxix. 7, 8, 9, 10, Whither fhall I go from thy Spirit ?
or, whither fhall I flee from thy prefence ? If 1 afcend up into hea-
ven, thou art there; If I make my bed in hell, behold thou art
there. If 1 take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the utter-
moft parts of the fea ; even there fhall thy hand find me, and thy
right hand fhall hold me.
q Luke xxiv. 6, He is not here, but is rifen.
y John xvi. 16, A little while and ye fhall not fee me ; and aga?a
a little while and ye fhall fee me, becaufe I go to the Father.
/Matth. i. 23, See letter 0. Chap, xxviii, »o, Lo, I am with you
alwaY, even unto the end of the world.
Sect. L THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 147
He comes and goes, none can him trace ;s
Yet never could he change his place* t
But though he's good, u and ev'ry where,
No goods in hell, yet he is there. <u
I by him, w in him x chofen was,/
Yet of the choice he's not the caufe :z
For fov'reign mercy ne'er was bought 5 tf
Yet through his blood a vent is fought, h
In him concenter'd at his death
His Father's love, c his Father's wrath \cl
3 John iii. 8> The wind bloweth where it lifteth, and thou hear-
eft the found thereof, but canft not tell whence it cometh, and
whither it goeth ; fo is every one that is born of the Spirit.
i Ifa. lxvi. i, Thus faith the Lord, The heaven is my throne,
and the earth is my footftool ; where is the houfe that ye buiid
unto me ? and where Is the place of my reft ?
v Pfalm c. 5, The JLord is good, his mercy is ever! a fling,
•v Pfalm exxxix. 8, If I make my bed in hell, behold thou art
there.
zv As God. x As Mediator.
y Eph. i. 4, According as he hath chofen us in him before the
foundation of the world, that we fhould be holy, and without
blame before him in love.
z But himfelf the Father's firft Gleet Ifa. xlii. i, Behold my
fervant, whom I uphold ; mine elect, in whom my foul delighteth.
Mat. xii. 1 8, Behold, my fervant, whom I have chofen, my belov-
ed, in whom my foul is well pleafed.
a John Hi. 16, God fo loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, &c. Rom. ix, n, For the children being not yet
born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpofe of
God according to election might ftand, not of works, but of him
that calleth. <v. 13, It is written, Jacob have I loved, but Efau
have I hated. ^.15, God faith to Mofcs, I will have mercy on
whom I will have mercy, and I will have companion on whom I
will have compafiion.
b Rom. iii. 24, 25, Being juftified freely by his grace, through
the redemption that is in Jefus Chrift; whom God hath fet forth
to be a propitiation, through faith in his blood, to declare his right-
coufnefs for the remiflion of fins, &c. Chap. v. 9, Being juftified
by his blood, we fliall be faved from wrath through him. «y. »i,
That as fin hath reigned unto death, even fo might grace reign
through righteoufnefs unto eternal life, by Jefus Chrift our Lord,
c John x. 17, Therefore doth my Father love me, becaufe I lay
down my life, that I might take it again.
d Ifa. Hi. 10, Yet it pleafed the Lord to bruife him ; he hath
put him to grief.
148 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III.
Ev'n he whom paflion never feiz'd,<?
Was then mod angry when mod pleas'd./
Juftice required that he fliould dte 9 g
Who yet was flain unrighteoufly ;A
And died in mercy and in wrath,
A lawful and a lawlefs death, i
With him I neither hVd nor died,
And yet with him was crncify'd.^
Law curfes ftopt his breath, that he
Might flop its mouth from curfmg me./
'Tis now a thoufand years and more
Since heav'n receiv'd him ; yet I know,
When he afcended up on high
To mount the throne, ev'n fo did I. m
Hence though earth's dunghill I embrace,
I fit with him in heav'nly place, n
e Tfa. xxvii. 4, Fury is not in me.
/Rom. viii. 23, He fpared not his own Son, but delivered him
up for us all. Eph. v. 2, Chrift ha^h given himfelf for us, an of-
fering and a facrifice to God for a fvveet fmelling favour.
£ Heb. vii. 22, By fo much was Jefus made a furety of a better
teftament. Chap. ix. 16, For where a teftament is, there muft al-
fo of necefuty be the death of the teftator. <v. 22, 23, And almofl:
all things are by the law purged with blood ; and without fhcdding
of blood is no remiilion. It was therefore neceflary that the pat-
terns of things in' the heavens fliould be purified with thefe; but
the heavenly things themfeives with better facrifices than thefe.
h Matth. xxvii. 4, I [Judas] have finned, in that I have betray-
ed the innocent blood, v. 23, And the governor faid, Why, what
evil hath he done ? But they cried out the more, faying, Let him
be crucified.
i A&s ii. 23, Jefus of Nazareth being delivered by the deter-
minate counfel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by
wicked hands have crucified and flain. Chap. iv. 27, For of a
truth the holy child Jefus, whom thou hall anointed, both Herod
and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Ifraei
were gathered together, Szc.
k Gal. ii. 20, 1 am crucified with Ghrilfc
/ Gal. \\u 13, Qfarift hath redeemed us from the curfe of the
law, being made a curfe for us ; for it is written, Curfed is every
one that hangeth on a tree.
m Col. iii. 1, If ye then be rifen with Chrift, &c. Heb. vi. 20,
Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jefus, &e.
n Eph; ii. 5, d. £vea when we were dead in fins, hath quicken*
Sect. II. THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 149
In divers difrant orbs I move,
Inthrall'd below, inthron'd above.
[I. The myjtery of the Saint's life, Jtate, and*
frame.
My life's a pleafure a and a pain xb
A real lofs, a real gain ; c
A glorious paradife of joys, d
A grievous prifon of annoys, e
I daily joy, and daily mourn, f
Yet daily wait the tide's return ;g
Then forrow deep my fpirit cheers* ,
I'm joyful in a. flood- of tears, h.
together -with Chrift, and hath railed us up together, and^
together in heavenly places in Chrift Jefus.
17, Her ways are ways of pleafantnefs, and all her
eace.
b Pfalm cxx. 7, Wo is me, that I fojourn in Mefechythat I dwell
in the ttnts of Kedar.
c Phil. iii. 7, Bat what things were gain to me, thofe I counted
lofs for Chrift. Chap..L 21, 24, For to me to live is- Chrift, and to-
die is gain. But if I live in the fkfh, this is the fruit of my labour ;
yet wliat I fhall choofe I wot not ; for i am in a frrait betwixt two,
having a defire to depart, and to be with Chrift, which is far bet-
ter : neverthelefs, to abide in .the flem is more needful for you.
d I Pet. i. 8, Whom having not feen, ye love ; in whom, though
now. ye fee him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unfpeaka-
ble, and full of glory.
e Pfalm cxlii. 7, Bring my foul out of prifon, that I may praife
thv name.
f 1 Pet, i. 6, Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a fea-
fon, (if need be) ye are in heavinefs through manifold temptations.
2- Cor. i. 4, Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may
be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort
wherewith we ourfelves are comforted of God. job xxx. 28, I
went mourning without the fun, &c.
g Ifa. viii. 17, And I will wait upon the Lord. that hideth Jus
face from the houfe of Jacob,, and I. will look for Mm.
h Zech. xii. 10, And I will pour upon the houfe of David, and
upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem the fpirit of grace and fuppli-
cation ; and they fhall look upon him whom they have pierced, and
they fhall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only lbn, and:
iliall be in bitternefs for him, as one that is in bittcrnefs for his firft-.
H 2
GOSPEL SONNETS, Part III.
Good caufe I have flill to be fad,**
) always to be glad, k
ny joys with forrows meet, /
And ft ill my tears are bitter fweet. m
I'm crois'd, and yet have all my will ; n
I'm always empty, always ftilL o
I hunger now, and thirft no more,j5>
Yet do more eager than before, q
born. Ezek. xxxvi. 31, 32, Then fliall ye remember your own
evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and fliall Jothe
vourfelves y\ your own fight, for your iniquities, and for your abo-
minations. Not for your lakes, do I this, faith the Lord God, be it
known unto you : be aihumed and confounded for your own ways,
Q houfe of Ifrael. Hof. xii. 3. 4, lie [Jacob] took his brother by
the heel ha the womb, and by his ftrength lie had power with God
yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed : he wept and
made fupplication ^nto him : he found him in Bethel, and there he
fpakc with us. Luke vii. 38, And (a woman which was a miner)
flood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wafh his feet
with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kiflf-
<. d iiis feet and anointed them with the ointment. John xx. 15,
16, jefus faith unto her, Woman why weepefl thou ? whom feek-
cft thou? me, fuppoiing him to be the gardener, faith unto him,
Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou haft laid him
and I will take him away. Jefus faith unto her, Mary; me turned
herfelf, and faith unto him, Rabboni, wich i-> to fay, Mafter. <v*
ao, Then were the diicip'es glad when they faw the Lord.
i Rom. vii. %4 f O wretched man that I am, who mall deliver
me, from the body of this death!
k 2 Cor. ii. 14^ Thanks be unto God, which always caufeth us
to triumph in Chrilt.
/ % Cor. vi. 20, As forrowful, yet always rejoicing.
m Zeeh. xii. 10, See letter h. Plal. exxvi. 5, They that fow in
tears fhall reap in joy. Ifa. lxi. 2, 3, The Lord hath fent me to
comfort all that mourn ; to appoint unto them that mourn in Zi-
on, to give unto them beauty for afhes, the oil of joy for mourn-
ing, the, garment of praife for the fpirit of hcavinefs, Sec. Matt.
v. 4, Bulk d are they that mourn; for they fhall be comforted.
7i Luke xxii 42, Father, if thou be wilting, remove this cup
from me ; nevertheleis, not my will but thine be done. Acts xxi.
14, And when he [Paul] would not be perfuaded, we ceafed, fay-
ing, The will of the Lord be done.
o i Cor. vi. 10, As having nothing, and yet poffefling all things.
p John vi. 35, And Jefas laid unto them, I am the bread of life,
he that cometh to me fhall never hunger ; and he that believeth.
en me ilia 11 never tliirft.
$ Pfalm xiii. 1, 2, As the hart panteth after the water-brocks,
Sect, II. THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE, 151
With meat and drink indeed I'm bleft,r
Yet feed on hunger, drink on thirll.y*
My hunger brings a plenteous ftore.i
My plenty makes me hunger more, t
Strange is the place of my abode,
I dwell at home, I dwell abroad, u
fo panteth my foul after thee, O God. My foul thirfteth for God,
for the living God : when ihall I come and appear before God ?
and ixiii. j, O God, thou art my God, early will I feek thee : my
foul thirfteth for thee, my fiefli longeth for thee in a dry and thirf-
ty land where no water is. And lxxiii. 25, Whom have I in heaven
but thee ? and there is none upon earth that I defire befides thee.
If a. xwl 8, 9, Yea in the way of thy judgments O Lord, have we
Waited lor thee ; the deiire of our foul is to thy name, and to the
ance of thee. With my foul Lave I deiired thee in the
with my ipirit within me will I feek thee early,
vi. g$% For my lieih is meat indeed, and my blood is,
drink indeed.
f Job xxix 2, 34, Oh that I were as in months paft, as in the
days when God preserved me, when his candle fhined upon my
head, and when by his light I walked through darknefs ; as I was
in the days of my youth, when the fecret of God was upon my
tabernacle. Pfal. lxxvii. 10, It, 12, 1 will remember the years of
the right hand of the Aloft High,.! will remember the works cf
the Lord ; furely i will remember tlry«vondeis of old. I will me--
ditare alio of all thy work, and talk of thy doings Song v. 8, I-
charge you, O daughters of Jerufalcm, if ye find my Beloved, that
ye tell him that I am lick of love- Ch. viii. 1, O that thou wcrt as
my brother that fucked the breads of my mother ! when I fhoulcl
find thee without, I would kifs thee, yea, I iliould not be defpifed'i
juMatth. v. 6, ^letfed are they which do hunger and third af-
ter right eoufnefs, for they {hall be filled.
t 2 Cor, v. 2, For in this we groan earneftly, dehring to be clor
thed upon with our houfe which is from heaven. Phil. i. 23, For
I am in a ftrait betwixt two, having a deiire to depart and to be
.with Chriit ; which is far better, &c. Song ii. 3, 4, 5, I fat down
under his fhadow with great delight, and his fruit was fweet un-
to my tafte. He brought me to the banqueting-houfe, and his
banner over me was love. Stay me with flaggons, comfort me with
apples : for I am fick of love.
u Job iv. 19, How much lefs them that dwell in houfes of clay,
whofe foundation is in the dull, which are crufhed before the
moth ? Pfal. xc. 1, Lord, thou haft been our dwelling place in all
generations, and xci. 1, He that dwelieth in the fecret place of the
Mod High, fhall abide under the fhadow of the Almighty. 1 John
iv. 16, God is love; and he that dwelieth in love, dwelkth in,
God, and God in him.
152 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III.
I am not where all men may fee,
But where I never yet could be. v
I'm full of hell, <w yet full of heaven \»
I'm full upright,^ yet ftill uneven ;s
Imperfect, a yet a perfect faint \b
I'm ever poor,£ yet never want.//
No mortal eye fees God and lives \e
Yet fight of him my foul revives, f
I live beft when I fee moil bright ; g
Yet live by faith, and not by fight, h
<v Ifa. xxxiii. 16, He fhall dwell on high ; his place of defence
fhall be the munition of rocks. Eph. ii. 6, And hath raifed us up
together, and made us fit together in heavenly places in Chrifl
Jefus.
iv Eccl. ix. 13, The heart of the fons of men is full of evil, and
madnefs is in their heart while they live, and after that they go
to the dead.
x Eph.Jii. 19, And to know the love of Chrifl:, which pafTeth
knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullnefs of God.
y Pfalm xviii. 23, I was alfo upright before him; and I kept
myfelf from mine iniquity.
z Ezek. xviii. 25, Hear now, O houfe of Ifrael, are not your
ways unequal ?
a Rev. iii. 2, Be watchful, and flrengthen the things which re-
main, that are ready to die ; for I have not found thy works per-
fect before God.
b 1 Cor, ii. 6, Howbeit we fpeak wifdom among them that are
perfect, &c.
c Pfalm xl. 17, But I am poor and needy, yet the Lord thinketh
upon me.
d Pfa. xxiii. 1, The Lord is my {hepherd, I fhall not want ; and
y.xxiv. 10, The young lions do lack and do fufFer hunger ; but they
that feek the Lord fliall not want any good tiling.
e Exod. xxxiii. 20, And he fuid, Thou canfl not fee my face; for
there fliall no man fee me, and live.
f John vi. 4a v, And this, is the will of him that fent me, that
every one which feeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have
everlafting life. Chap. xx. 30, Then were the difciples glad when
they faw the Lord.
g 2 Cor. iii. 18, But we all with open face beholding as in a
glafs the glory of the Lord, are changed into the fame image, from
glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. Chap. iv. 6, For
God who commanded the light to fhine out of darknefs, hath Aim-
ed in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory
of God in the face of Jefus Chrifl.
b Gal. ii, 20, 1 am crucified with Chrifl; neverthekfs I live, yet
THE BELIEVERS RIDDLE. 153
'm lib'ral,/ yet have nought to fpare ;/?
'oft richly cloth'd,/ yet ilript and bare, m
ck Is ri fen by my fail ; n
aving nothing, I have all.
m finful,/ yet I have no fin ; q
fpotted o'er, r yet wholly clean.y
Biacknefs and beauty both I fhare ;
hellifh black, a heavenly fair, s
not I, but Chrift liveth in me ; and the life which I now live in the
fleih, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave
himfelf for me. % Cor. v. 7, For we walk by faith, not by fight.
i Pfa. xxvii. 31, The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again;
but the righteous fhoweth mercy, and giveth.
k Zeph. iii. 12, I will alfo leave in the midft of thee an afflicted
and poor people, and they fhall truft in the asUBae of the Lord.
/ Ifa. lxi. 10, I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my foul £hall be
joyful in my God, for he hath clothed me with the garments of
falvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteoufnefs, as a
bridegroom decketh himfelf with ornaments, and as a bride adorn-
cth herfelf with her jewels.
m Ezek. xvi. 7, I have caufed thee to multiply as the bud of the
field, and thou haft increafed and waxen great, and thou art corne
to excellent ornaments ; thy breafts are faihioned, and thine hair is
grown, whereas thou waft naked and bare. Rev. iii. 17, Becaufe
thou fayeft, I am rich, and increafed with goods, and have need of
nothing; and knoweft not that thou art wretched, and miferable,
and poor, and blind, and naked.
n Rom. viii. 2% And we know that all things work together for
good to them that love God, to them who are the called accord-
ing to his purpofe.
% Cor. vi. 10, As having nothing, and yet poffefUng all things.
p Rom. vii. 14, For we know that the law is fpiritual, but I am
carnal, fold under fin. V. 24, O wretched man that I am, who
fhall deliver me from the body of this death ?
q Num. xxiii. 21, He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither
hath he feen perverfenefs in Ifrael. 1 John iii. 9, Whofoever is
born of God, doth not commit fin; for his feed remaineth in him;
and he cannot fin becaufe he is born of God.
r Pfalm xiv. 3, They are all gone alkie, they are altogether be-
come filthy : there io Hone that doth good, no not one.
f Song iv. 7, Thou art fair, my love, there is no fpot in thee*
s Song i. 5, I am black but comely, O ye daughters of Jerufa-
len;, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon. V. 15, Be-
hold, thou art fair, my love ; behold, thou art fair, thou hail doves
154 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III.
They're of the devil who fin amain : t
But I'm of God, yet fin retain : u
This traitor vile the throne aflurnes,^
Prevails, yet never overcomes. <w
I'm without guile, an Ifraelite \x
Yet like a guileful hypocrite ;y
Maintaining truth in th' inward part, %
With falfehood rooted in my heart, a
Two mailers fure, I cannot ferve, £
But muit from one regardlefs fwerve ;
Yet felf is for my matter known, c
And Jefus is my Lord alone, d
t I John iii. 8, He that committeth fin, is of the devil ; for the
devil finneth from the beginning.
u t John i. 8, If we fay that we have no fin, we deceive our-
felves, and the truth is not in us.
«z> Rom. vii. 23, But 1 fee another law in my members, warring
againft the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the
law of fin which is in my members.
iv Pfalm lxv. 3, Iniquities prevail againft: me : as for our tranf-
greffions, thou fhalt purge them away. Roni. vi. 14, For fin fhall
not have dominion over you ; for ye are not under the law, but
under grace.
x John i. 42, Jefus faw Nathaniel coming to him, and faith of
him, Behold an Ifraelite in whom is no guile. Pfalm xxxii. 2,
BlefTed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity,
and in whofe fpirit there is no guile.
v Pfalm xix. 12, Who can underftand his errors ? cleanfe thou
me from fecret faults.
z Pfalm li. 6, Behold thou defirefi truth in the inward parts ;
and in the hidden part thou fhalt make me to know wifdom.
a Matt h. xv. 19, For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts,
murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, falfe-witnefs, blafphemies.
h Matth. vi. 24, No man can ferve two matters : for either he
will hate the one, and love the other ; or elfe he will hold to the
one, and defpife the other. Ye cannot ferve God and mammon.
c Hot. x. 1, Ifrael is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit un-
to himfelf ; according to the multitude of his fruit, he hath in-
creafed the altars ; according to the goodnefs of his land, they
have made goodly images. Matth. xvi. 24, Then faid Jefus unto
his difciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny him-
felf, and take up his crofs and follow me.
</Ifa. xxvi. 13, O Lord our God, other lords befide ihec have
had dominion over us ; but by thee only will we make mention
of thy name. John xx. 28, And Thomas anfwered and faid unto
him, My Lord, and my God,
Sect. 1
II. THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 155
feek myfelf incefTantly,*?
Yet daily do myfelf deny./
To me 'tis lawful evermore
Myfelf to love and to abhor. ^
In this vain world I live, yet fee
I'm dead to it and it to me. h
My joy is ondlefs, i yet at beft
Does hardly for a moment laft.i
e James iv. 3, Ye afk and receive not, becaufc yc afk amifsjthat
ye may confume it upon your lulls. Jer.xlv. 2,5, Thus faith the
Lord the God of Ifrael unto thee, O Baruch, and feekefl thou
great things for thyfelf ? Seek them not ; for behold I will bring
evil upon all flefh, faith the Lord ; but thy life will I give unto
thee for a prey in ail places whither thou goeft.
yMatth. xvi. 24, See letter c.
gL.ev.xix. iS, Thou fhait not avenge nor hear any grudge
againft the children of thy people, but thou {halt love thy neigh-
bour as thyfelf — I am the Lord. JEph. v. 29, For no man ever
yet hated his own flefli; but nourifheth and eherifheth it, even
as the Lord the church. John xii. 25, He that loveth his life
fhall lofe it : and he that lofeth his life in this world, fhall keep
it unto life eternal. Job xlii. 6, Wherefore I abhor myfelf, and
repent in duft and allies.
h Col. iii. 3, For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Chrift in
God. Gal. vi. 14, But God forbid that I iliould^lory, fave in the
crofs of our Lord Jefus Chrift, by whom tne world is crucified
unto me, and I unto the world,
1 John xvi. 22, And ye now therefore have forrow; but I will
fee you again, and your heart fhall rejoice, and your joy no man
taketh from you. 2 ThefT. ii. 16, Now our Lord Jefus Chrift
iiimfelf, and God the Father, which hath loved us, and hath
given us everlafting confolation, and good hope through grace,
&c.
k Pfalm xxx. 7, Lord, by thy favour, thou haft made my moun*
tain to Hand ftrong : thou didft hide thy face, and I was trou-
bled. Ifa. xlix. 13, 14, Sing, O heavens, and be joyful, O earth ;
and break forth into iinging, O mountains : for the Lord hath
comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted. But
Zion faid, The Lord hath forfaken me, and my I>ord hath for*
gotten rae» -
156 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III.
SECT- III. Myjleries about the Saints 9 work and war-
fare, their fins, farrows, and joys.
The work is great I'm call'd unto, a
Yet nothing's left for me to do : b
Hence for my work Heaven has prepar'd
No wages, c yet a great reward, d
To works, but not to working dead : e
From fin, but not from finning freed,/
I clear myfelf from no offence, #
Yet v/aili mine hands in innocence, h
a Phil. ii. I a, Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obey-
ed, not as in my prefence only, but now much more in my abfence;
work out your own falvation with fear and trembling.
b Phil. ii. 13, For it is God which worketh in you, both to will
and to do of his good pleafure. Lev. xx. 7, 8, Sancftify yourfelves
therefore, and be ye holy ; for I am the Lord your God. And ye
iliali keep my ftatutes, and do them : I am the Lord which famfti-
fy you.
c Rom. vi. 23, For the wages of fin is death : but the gift of
God is eternal life, through Jefus Chrift our Lord. Chap. xi. 6,
And if by grace, then is it no more of works ; otherwife grace is
no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace ;
otherwife work is no more work.
d Pfalm xix. 1 1, Moreover, by them [the judgments of the Lord]
is thy fervant warned ; and in keeping of them there is a great re-
ward. Pfalm lviii. 11, Verily there is a reward for the righteous ;
verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth.
<?Rom. vii. 4 5 Wherefore, my brethren, ye atfo are become dead
to the law by the body of Chrift ; that ye fhould be married to
another, even to him who is raifed from the dead, that we fliould
bring forth fruit unto God. Gal. ii. 19, For I through the law am
dead to the law, that-4-ircight live unto God.
f 1 John i. 8, If /we fay we have no fin, we deceive ourfelves,
and the truth is not in us. Chap. iii. 9, Whofoever is born of God,
doth not commit fin, for his feed remaineth in him ; and he can-
not fin, becaufe he is born of God.
g Rom. vii. 18, For I know, that in me (that is, in my flefh,)
dwelleth no good thing; for to will is prefent with me;. but how
to perform that which is good, I find not.
h Pfalm xxvi. 6, 1 will wafh mine hands in innocence ; fo will I
eompafs thine altar, O Lord.
[I. THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 157
My Father's anger burns like fire,/
Without a ipark of furious ire \k
Though ftill my fins difpleafmg be,/
Yet ftill, I know he's pleas'd with me.w
Triumphing is my conftant trade, n
Who yet am oft a captive led.s
My bloody war does never ceafe,^
Yet I maintain a ftable peace, q
My foes affaulting conquer me,
Yet ne'er obtain the victory ; r
For all my battles loft or won,
Were gain'd before they were begun./
' 1 Kings si. 9, And the Lord was angry with Solomon, becraufc
i heart was turned from the Lord God of Ifrael, which had ap-
peared unto him twice.
k Ifa. xxvii. 4, Eiry is not in me. Chap. 3 i v. 9, 10, For this i^
as the waters of Noah unto me : for as I have fworn that the wa-
of Noah mould no more go over the earth ; fo have I fworn
I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. For the
attains ihali depart, and the hiiis be removed ; but my kind-
pot depart from thee, neither ihail the covenant of my
removed, faith the Lord, that hath mercy on thee,
b. i. 13, Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and
: not look on iniquity. Jer. xliv. 4, Howbeit, I fent unto you
my fcrvants the prophets, riling early, and fending them, lay-
ing, O do not .this abominable thing that I hate.
Matth. iii. 17, And lo, a voice from heaven, faying, This is
Deloved Son, in whom I am well pleafed. Rom. v. 10, When
ere enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his
Cor. ii. 14, Now thanks be unto God which always caufetL
to triumph in Chriil. ^
Rom. vii. 23, But I fee another law in my members, warring
againft the bw of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the
law of fin, which is in my members.
p Rom. vii. 23, See letter 0. 1 Tim. vi. 12, Fight the good fight
cf faith, &c. GaL v. 17, For the ilefh lufleth againft the Spirit,
and the Spirit againft the ffefh ; and thefe are contrary the one
to the other ; fo that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
q Rom. v. 1, Therefore being juftified by faith, we have peace
with God, through our Lord Jefus Chrift, Ifa. liv. 10, See letter k,
r Rom. vii. 23, See letter 0. Chap. viii. 37, Nay, in all* thofe
things we are more than conquerors, through him that loved us.
/i Cor. xv. 57, But thanks be to God, which giveth usthevic-
torv, through our Lord Jefus Chriil.
o
* 5 3 GOSPEL SONNETS, Part I1L
I'm ftill at eafe, and ftill oppreft ;
Have conftant trouble, conftant reft ;s
Both clear and cloudy, t free and bound ; u
Both dead arid living, <v loft and found, w
She for my good does work and win ;#
Yet 'tis not good for me to fm,y
My pleafure iflues from my pain ; %
My lofTes ftill increafe my gain.#
s % Cor. iv. S, We are troubled on -every fide, yet not diftreff=
ed ; we are perplexed, but not in defpair. John xvi. $h Thefe
things have I fpoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.
In the world ye fliall have tribulation.; but be of good cheer, I
have overcome the world. Heb. iv. 3, For we which have be-
lieved, do enter into reft.
t Zech. xiv. 6, 7, And it fliall come to pafs in that dayfthat the
light fliall not be clear, nor dark. But it fliall be one day, which
^nall be known to the Lord, not day nor night ; but it fliall come
to pafs, that at evening time it fliall be light. Mic. vii. 8, Re-
joice not againft me, O mine enemy ; when I fall, I fliall arife ;
when I fit in darknefs, the Lord fliall be light unto me.
u John viii. 36, If the Son therefore fliall make you free, ye
fliall be free indeed. Acts xx. 23, The Holy Ghoft witneflfeth in
every city, faying, that bonds and afflictions abide^he.
•y z Cor. vi. 9, As dying, and behold we live. Col. iii. 3, For
ye arc dead, and our life is hid with Chrift in God.
to Matth. xviii. 11, For the Son of man is come to fave that
.which was loft. Pfalm cxix. 176, I have gone aftray like a loft
flieep, feek thy fervant. Phil. *ii. 9, And be found in him, not
having mine own righteoufnefs, which is of the law, but that
which is through the faith of Chrift, the righteoufnefs which is of
God by faith.
x Rom. viii. 38, And we know that all things work together
for good, to them that love God, to them who are the called ac-
cording to his purpofe. Chap. xi. 11, I fay then, Have they ftum-
Jpled, that they fhould fall ? God forbid ; but rather flirough their
fall falvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to
jealoufy.
v Pfalm lxxxix. 31, 32, If they break my ftatutes, and keep not
my commandments, then will I vifit their tranfgrellions with the
rod, and their iniquity with ftripes.
z Pfalm cxix. 67, Before I was afflicted, I went aftray : but now
have I kept thy word. v. 71, It is good for me that I have been
afrii&ed ; that I might learn thy ftatutes. James i. a, My breth-
ren, count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations.
a Matth. x. 39, He that lofeth his life for my fake, fliall 'find it.
Mark x. 39, 30, And Jefus anfwered and faid, Yerily I fay unto
Sect. III. THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 159
I'm healed even when my plagues abound, £
Cover'd with tin ft even when I'm crown'd \c
As low as death when living high, d
Nor fhall I live, yet cannot die. e
For all my fins my heart is fad,
Since God's difhonour'd ;/yet I'm glad,
Though once I was a fiave to &n,g
Since God does thereby honour win. h
you, There is no man that left houfe, or brethren, or lifers, or fa-
ther, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my fake and the
gofpel's, but he fhall receive an hundred fold now in this time,
houfes, and brethren, and filters, and mothers, and children, and
lands, with, perfections, and in the world to come, eternal life.
b Rom. vii. 24, 26, O wretched man that I am, who fhall deliv-
er me from the body of this death ! I thank God, through Jefus
Chrift our Lord.
c viz. 'with mercy, Job xlii. 5, 6, 1 have heard of thee by the hear-
ing of the ear : but now mine eye feeth thee. Wherefore I abhor
myfelf, and repent in dull and afhes. Ezek. xvi. 63, That thou
mayeft remember and be confounded,- and never open thy mouth
any more, becaufe of thy fhame, when I am pacified toward thee
for. all that thou haft done, faith the Lord God.
d % Cor. vi. 9, As dying, and behold we live;
e Heb. ix. 37, ft is appointed unto men once to die. John v.
24, Verily, verily I fay unto you, He that heareth my word and
believeth on him that fent me, hath everlafling life, and fhall not
come into condemnation ; but 13 pafTed from death unto lifci.
Chap. vi. 40, And this is the will of him that fent me, that every
one which feeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have ever-
lasting life, v, 50*, 51, This is the bread which cometh down from
heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living
bread which came down from heaven ; if any man eat of this
bread he fhall live forever ; and the bread that I will give is my
fiefh, which I will give for the life of the world.
f Pfalm li. 4, Againft thee, thee only have I finned, and done
this evil in thy fight.
g Rom. vi. 17, But God be thanked, that ye were the fcrvants
of fin ; but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine
which was delivered unto you.
h Ifa. xli. 34, Sing, O ye heavens ; for the Lor<J hath done it :
Shout ye lower parts of the earth ; break forth into tinging ye
mountains, O forefh, and every tree therein : for the Lord hath
redeemed Jacob, and glorified himfelf in Ifrael. Eph. i. 6, To the
praife of the glory of. his grace. 1. 12, That we iT.culd be to the
praife of his glory.
i6o GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III.
My fins are ever ia his eye,/
Yet he beholds no fin in me ;.?
His mind that keeps them all in (lore,
Wiil yet remember them no more./
Becaufe my fins are great, I feel
Great fears of heavy wrath ; m yet ftill
For mercy feek, for pardon wait,
Becaufe my fins are very great. n
I hfcpe when plung'd into defpair,*
I tremble when I have no fear.^>
* Rev. iii. i, I know thy works, that thou haft a name that thou
lived, and art dead. v. 15, I know thy works, that thou art nei-
ther cold nor hot.
h Numb, xxiii. 21^ He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, nei-
ther hath he feen perverfenefs in Ifrael. Song iv. 7, Thou art all
fair, my love, there is no fpot in thee. Ezck. xvi. 14, And thy
renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty ; for it was
perfect through my comelinefs which I had put upon thee, faith
the Lord God.
/ Ifa xliii. 25, I, even I am he that blottcih out thy tranfgref-
fions for mine own fake, and will not remember thy fins. Jer.
xxxi. 34, I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their
fins no more. Heb. viii. 12, I will be merciful to their unright-
eoufncfs,and their fins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
?n Ezra ix. 13, 14, And after all that is come upon us for our
evil deeds, and for our great trefpafs, feeing that thou our God haft
pumilied us lefs than our iniquities deferve, and haft given us fuch
deliverance as this, fiiould we again break thy commandments, and
join in affinity with the people of thefe abominations ? wouldft
not thou be angry with us till thou hadft confumed us, fo that there
fhould be no remnant efcaping ? Pfa, xxxviii. 2, O Lord, rebuke
rne not in thy wrath ; neither chaften me in thy hot difpleafure.
n Pfalm xxv. 11, For thy name's fake, O Lord, pardon mine ini-
quity ; for it is great. Jer. xiv. 7, O Lord, though our iniquities
tefttfy againft us, do thou it for thy name's fake ; for our back-
Hidings are many, we have finned againft thee.
o Rom. iv. 18, Who [Abraham] againft hope believed in hope.
% Cor. i. 8, 9, For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of
our trouble which came to us in Alia, that we were prefTed out
of meafure, above ftrength, infomuch that we defpaired even of
l.Ffe : hut we had the fentence of death in ourfelves, that we fiiould
not trufi: in ourfelves, but in God which raifeth the dead.
p Phil. ii. 12, Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have slways obey-
ed, not as in my prefence only, but now much more in my ab-
icuce ; work out your own falvation with fear and trembling.
Luke i. 74, That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered
out of the hands of our enemies, might lerve him without fear.
Sect. IV. THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 161
Pardons dlfpel my griefs and fears, q
And yet diilblves my heart in tears, r
5ECT. IV. Myfterks in Faith' *s extractions, way and walk,
prayers and knjhvers, heights and depths, fear and love*
With wafbs and bees, my bufy bill
Sucks ill from good, and good from ill \m
Humility makes my pride to grow,
And pride afpiring lays me low.£
q Matth. ix. 2, Jefus faid unto the iick of the palfy, Son, be of.
good cheer, thy fins be forgiven thee.
r Ezek. xxxvi. 25, 26, Then will I fprinkle clean water upon
you, and ye lliall be clean ; from all your filthinefs, and from all
your idols will I cleanfe you. A new heart alfo will. I give you s .
■and a new ipirit will I put within you ; and I will take away the
ftony heart out of your fieih, and I will give you an heart of rlefh.
v. 31, Then ihall ye remember your own evil ways, and your do-
ings that were not good, and ihall lothe yourfelves in your own
fight for your own iniquities, and for your abominations. Chap,
xvi, 63, That thou mayeflt remember and be confounded, and nev-
er open thy mouth any more, hecaufe of thy fliame, when I am
pacified toward thee for all that thou haft done, faith the Lord
God.
a Rom. ii. 4, Or defpifeft then the riches of his goodnefs, and
forbearance, and long fiit'fering: not knowing that the goodnefs
of God leadeth thee to repentance ? Chap. vi. 1, 2, What fhall we
fay then ? ihall we continue in fin, that grace may abound ? God
forbid ; how fliall W€ that are d.?7{d to im live any longer therein ?
ik 15, Whnt then? (hall we fin, becaufe we are not under the
law, but under grace ? God forbid. Chap. viii. 28, And we know
that all things work together for good, to them that love God, to
them who are the called according to his purpofe. Phil. i. 12,
But I would ye fhould underftand* brethren, that the things which
happened unto me, have fallen out unto the furtherance of the
gofpel. Pfalm cxix. 71, It is good for me that I have been af-
ilidted ; that I might learn thy ftatutes.
b 2 Cor. xii. 7, And left I iliould be exalted above meafure,
through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a
thorn in the flefh, the meiTenger of Satan to buffet me, left I fhould
be exalted above meafure. Prov. xxix. 23, A man's pride ihall
bring him low; but honour lliall uphold the humble in ipirit*
1 Chron. xxxii 26, Kezekiah humbled himfeif for the pride of his-
heart, (both he and the inhabitants of Jerufalem,) fo that the
wrath of the Lord came not upon them in the days of Kezekiah,
2
i6z GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III.
My ftandiftg does my fall procure,*:
My falling makes me ftand more (are. J
My poifon does my phyfic prove, e
My enmity provokes my love./
My poverty infers my wealth,^
My ficknefs iflues in my health : h y
My hardnefs tends to make me foft,i
And killing things do cure me oft.Z-
While high attainments caft me down,
My deep abafements raife me foon : /
c Pfalm xxx. 6, 7, And in my prosperity I faid, I fhall never be
moved. Lord, by thy favour thou haft made my mountain to
Hand flrong; thou didft hide thy face, and lAvas troubled.
d Prov. xxiv. 16, For a juft man falleth feven times, and rifeth
up again. Pfalm xxxvii. 24, Though he fall, he fhall not be ut-
terly caft down; for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.
€ 7, Cor. xii. 7, 8, And left I fhould be exalted above meafure,
through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me
a thorn in the flefh, the meffenger of Satan to buffet me, left I
fhould be exalted above meafure. For this thing I befought the
Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. Ifa. xxvii. 8, 9, In
meafure when it fhooteth forth, thou wilt debate with it ; he ftay-
eth his rough wind in the day of his eaft wind. By this, there-
fore, fhall the iniquity of Jacob be purged, and this is all the fruit
to take away his fin.
/Gal. v. 27, The flefh lufteth againft the Spirit, and the Spirit
againft the flefti. *v. 34, And they that are Chrift's have crucified
the flefh, with the affections and lufts.
g Rev. ii. 9,*I know thy poverty, but thou art rich. % Cor. vi.
10, — as having nothing, and yet poffefllng all things.
h Matth. ix. 12, They that be whole need not a phyftcian, but
they that are fick. Ifa. lvii. 17, 18, For the iniquity of his cove-
toufnefs was I wroth, and fmote him : I hid me and was wroth,
and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart, I have feen his
ways, and will heal him : I will lead him alfo, and reftore com-
forts unto him, and to his mourners.
i Ifa. lxiii. 17, O Lord, why haft thou made us err from thy
ways ? and hardened our hearts from thy. fear ? Return for thy
lervant's fake, the tribes of thine inheritance.
k % Cor. i. 9, But we had the fentence of death in ourfelves,
that we fhould not truft in ourfelves, but in God, which raifeth
the dead. Hof. v. 15, I will go and return to my place, till they
acknowledge their offence, and feek my face ; in their affliction
they will feek me early. Chap. vi. 1, Come and let us return un-
to the Lord ; for he hath torn, and he will heal us ; he hath
fmitten, and he will bind us up.
/ 1 Bet, v. 6, Be fubjecl: one to another, and be clothed with hu-
Sect. IV. THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE.
Dft have evil brood, w
work the greateil good.??
that me alarm, #
hurt, yet little harm, o
jy them,* yet fee
od they caufe me ftee.p
ne a deadly ftroke, q
• a living rock, r
long for Canaan's banks, $
Yet fure I owe them little thanks.
ity ; for God refifteth the proud, and giveth grace to the hum-
Humble yourfdves therefore under the mighty hand of God,
that he may exalt you in due time. Pfalm cxvi. 6, I was brought
low, and he helped me.
m Pfalm xxx. 6, 7, And in my profperity I faid, I fhall never
be moved. Lord, by thy favour thou haft made my mountain to
ftand ftrong : thou did ft hide thy face, and I was troubled, Deut.
xxxii. 14, 15, Butter of kine, and milk of fheep, with fat of lambs
and rams of the breed of Bafhan, and goats, with the fat of kid-
neys, of- wheat j and thou didft drink the pure blood of the grape.
But Telhurun waxed fat, and kicked : thou art waxen fat, thou art
grown thick-, thou art covered with fatnefs : then he forfook the
God which made him, and lightly efteemed the rock of his falva-
tion. Pfalm cvi. 7, Our fathers under flood not the wonders in
Egypt, they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies, but
provoked him at the fea, even at the Red fea.
n Pfalm xx. 11, Thou haft turned for me my mourning into
dancing: thou haft put off my fackcloth, and girded me wkh glad-
nefs. Rom. viii. a 8, See letter a.
Jer. x. 19. Wo is me for my hurt, my wound is grievous ; but
I faid, Truly this is a grief, and I muft bear it. 1 Pet. iii. 13,
And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which
is good ? •
* tfix. in themfelves, but much evil. 1 Pet. ii. n, Dearly belov-
ed, I befeech you as ftrangers and pilgrims, abftain from flefhly
lufts, which war againft the foul. James i. 14, 15, But every man
is 'tempted when he is drawn away by his own luft, and enticed.
Then when luft hath conceived, it bringeth forth fin ; and finj
when it is finifhed, bringeth forth death.
p Pfalm cxliii. 9, Deliver me O Lord, from mine enemies ; I flee
unj:o thee to hide me.
q Rom. viii. 13, If ye live after the flefh, ye fhall die.
r Pfalm xviii. 46, 47, The Lord liveth, and bleffed be my rock;
and let the God of my falvation be exalted. It is God that aveng-
Cth me, and fubdueth the people under me.
j Pfalm lv, 6, And I faid, O that I had wings like a dove ! for
1 64 GOSPEL SONNETS- Part III*
I travel, / yet ftand firm and faft ; u
I run, v but yet I make no hafte. w
I take away both old and new, x
Within my fight, y yet out of view, z
My way directs me in the way, a
And will not fufFer me to ftray ; I
Though high and out of fight it be,
I'm in the way, the way's in me. c
then would I fly away and be at reft. And cxx. 5, Wo is me that
' I fojourn in Mefech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar. Rom. viii.
30, 22, 23, For he (the creature) was made fubje<St to vanity, not
willingly, but by reafon of him who hath fubjectcd the fame in
hope; becaufe the creature itfelf alfo fliall be delivered from the
bondage of corruption, into the glorious liberty of the children of
God : For we know the whole creation groaneth, and travailleth
in pain, together until now . and not only they, but ourfelves alfo,
which have the firft fruits of the Spirit, even we ourfelves groan
within ourfelves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption
of our body.
t Heb. xi. 13, And confefTed that they were (bangers and pil-
grims on the earth.
u 1 Cor. xvi. 13, Watch ye, ftand faft in the faith ; quit ycu like
men, be ftrong.
w Heb. xii. 1, Let us run with patience the race that is fet be-
fore us.
10 Ifa. xxviii. 16, He that believeth, fliall not make hafte.
9c Jer. vi. 16, Thus faith the Lord, ftand ye in the ways and fee,
and aik ye for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk
therein, and ye fliall find reft for your fouls. Heb. x. 19, 20, Hav-
ing, therefore, brethren, boldnefs to enter into the holieft by the
blood of Jems, by a new and living way, which he hath confecra-
ted for us, through the vail, that is to fny, his flefh.
y 1 Cor. xiii. 12, For we now fee through a glafs, darkly ; but
then face to face : now I know in part ; but then fliall I know,
even as I alfo am known.
z John xvi. 10, 1 go to my Father and ye fee me no more.
a John xiv. 6, Jefus faith unto him, I am the way: — no man
Cometh unto the Father, but by me.
b Ifa. xlii. 16, And I will bring the blind by a way that they
know not ; I will lead them in paths that they have not known :
I Will make darknefs light before them, and crooked things ftraight.
Thefe things will I do unto them, and not forfake them. Chap. v.
4, Behold, I have given him to be a leader and commander to the
people.
c Ifa. xxxv. 8, And an highway ihall be there, and a way, and
it fhall be called the way of holinefs ; the unclean ihall not pafs
over it, but it fliall be for thefe ; the wayfaring men, though fools,
Sect. IV. THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 165
Tis ftraight,;/ yet full of heights and depths \t
' kept the way,/" the way rne keeps, g
nd being that to which I tend,
y very way's my journey's end. h
When I'm in company I groan,
Becaufe I then am mo ft alone ; i
Yet in my clofeft fecrecy,
I'm joyful in my company, i
#iall not err therein. John xv. 14, Abide in me, and I in you.
Chap. xvii. 23, I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made
perfect in one, and that the world may know that thou haft fent
me, and haft loved them, as thou haft loved rne. vt 2 6, And I have
declared unto them thy name, and will declare it ; that the love
wherewith thou haft loved me, may be in them,^fid I in them.
d Matth. iii. 3, This is he that was fpoken of by the prophet
JSfaias, faying, The voice of one crying in the wildernefs, Prepare
ye the way of the Lord, make his pafhs ftraight.
e lfa. xl. 3, 4, The voice of him that crieth in the wildernefs,
Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make ftraight in the defert a high-
way for oar God. Every valley fliall be exalted, and every moun-
tain and hill be made low: and the crooked fliall be made ftraight,
and the rough places plain. Chap. xlii. 16, See letter b. Pfalm
lxxvii. 13, Thy way, O God, is in the fanctuary. v*. 19, Thy way
is in the fea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy foot.fteps
are not known.
f Pfalm xxxvii. 34, Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and
he fhall exalt thee to inherit the land,
g Pfalm cxxi. 3, 4, He will not fufFer thy foot to be moved :
he that keepeth thee will not Dumber. Behold, he that keepeth
Ifrael, fliall neither flumber nor fleep.
h Heb, xii. 22, 23, 24, Bat ye are come unto mount Sion, and
unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerufalem, and to
an innumerable company of angels, to the general afTembly and
church of the firft born, which are written in heaven, and to God
the judge of all, and to the fpirits of juit men made perfect, and to
Jefus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of
fprinkling, that fpeaketh better things than the blood of Abel.
1 ThefT. iv. 17, Then we which are alive and remain, fliall be
caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in
the air ; and fo fliall we ever be with the Lord.
i Song i. 3, Tell me, O thou whom my foul loveth, where thou
feedcfi, where thou makeft thy flock to red at noon : for why
fliould I be as one that turiieth afide by the flocks of thy com-
panions ?
k Song Vii. 11, 12, Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the
ficM; let us lodge in the villages. Let us get up early to the vine-
166 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III.
I'm heard afar, / without a noife ;
I cry without a lifted voice, m
Still moving in devotion's iphere, n
Yet feldom fteady perfevere. o
I'm heard when anfwer'd foon or late \p
And heard when I no anfwer get; q
Yea, kindly anfwer'd, when refus'd, r
And friendly treat, when harfhly us'd./
yards, let us fee if the vines flouriih, whether the tender grape*
appear, and the pomegranates bud forth ; for there will I give thee
my loves.
/ Pfalm xx. 6, Now know I, that the Lord faveth his anointed ;
he will hear him from his holy heaven, with the faving flrengtk
of his right hand.
m t Sam. i. 13, 14, 15, Now Hannah, {lie fpake in her heart,
only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard ; therefore Eli
thought Hie had been drunken. Ar^d Eli faid unto her, how long
wilt thou be drunken ? put away thy wine from thee. And Han-
nah anfwered and faid, No, my lord, I am a woman of a forrewful
Xpirit; I have drunken neither wine nor flrong drink, but have
poured out my foul before the Lord,
n 1 ThefT. v. 13, Pray without ceafing.
Hof. vi. 4, O Ephraim, what L .!: do unto thee ? O Judah,
what fhali I do unto thee ? for your goodnefs is as a morning cloud,
and as the early dew it goeth away.
p Ifa. xlix. 8, Thus faith the Lord, in an acceptable time have
I heard thee, and in a day of faivatioa have I helped thee.
q Matth. xxvi, 39, And Tefus went a little further, and fell on
his face, and prayed, faying, O my Father, if it be pofIible,let this
cup pafs from me, neverthclefs, not as I will, but as thou wilt.
r Pfalm xxii. 1, 2, 3, My God, my God, why hail thou forfaken
-me ? why art thou fo far from helping me, and from the words of
my roaring ? O my God, I ery in the day time, but thou hearefl
not ; and in the night feafon, and am not filent. But thou art
holy, O thou that inhabited the praifes of Ifrael.
/Heb. xii. $ — 10, And ye have forgotten the exhortation
which fpeaketh unto you as children, My fon,defpife not thou the
chaftening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him :
For whom the Lord loveth he chafleneth, and fcourgeth every
fon whom he receiveth. If ye endure chaftening, God dealeth
with you as with fons ; for what fon is he whom the father chafl-
eneth not ? But if ye be without chaflifement, whereof all are
partakers, then are ye baftards, and not fons. Furthermore, we
have had fathers of our flefh, which corrected Us, and we gave
them reverence ; fhall we not much rather be in fubjeetion to the
Sect. IV. THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 167
My fervent prayers ne'er did prevail, s
Nor e'er of prevalency fail, t
I wreftle till my ftrength be fpent,a
Yet yield when flrong recruits are fent. v
IJangmfh for my Hufband's charms, w
Yet faint away when in his arms.^
My fweetefl: health doth Ticknefs prove ;
When love me heals, I'm fick of love.y
I am mofl merry when I'm fad ;»
Moil mil of forrow when I'm glad \a
Father of fpiri* 5, and live ? For they verily for a few days chaft-
ened us after their own pleafure ; but he for our profit, that we
might be partakers of his holinefs.
s Dan. ix. 8, 19, O my God, incline thine ear, and hear ; open
thine eyes, and behold our defolations, and the city which is call-
ed by thy name ; for we do not prefent our fupplications before
thee for our righteoufnefs, but for thy great mercies. O Lord 5
liear; O Lord, forgive ; O Lord, hearken and do ; defer not for
thine own fake, O my God ; for thy city, and thy people are call-
ed by thy name.
t James v. 16, The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man
availeth much.
u Gen. xxxii. 24, 25, And Jacob was left alone ; and there
wreftied a man with him until the breaking of the day.
•v Pfalm cxxxviii. 3, In the day when I cried, thou anfweredfl:
me^ and ftrengthenedfl me with ilrength in my foul. Gen. xviii.
33, 33, And he faid. Oh let not, the Lord be angry, and I will
fpeak but this once ; Peradventure ten fliall be found there. And
the Lord went his way as foon as he had left communing with
Abraham ; and Abraham returned unto his place.
iv Pfalm Ixiii. 2, My flefh longeth to fee thy power and thy glo-
ry, lb as I have feen thee in the fan&uary. And xxvii. 4, One
thing have I deiired of the Lord, that will I feek after, that I may
dwell in the houfe of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold
the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.
x Rev. i. 17, And when I faw him, I fell at his feet as deads.
znd he laid his right hand upon me, faying unto me, Fear not ; I
am the firffc and the laft.
y Song ii. 4, 5, He brought me to the banqueting houfe, and his
banner over me was love. Stay me with flagons, comfort me with
apples ; for I am lick of love.
z. 1 Cor. vii. 10, For godly forrow worketh repentance unto
falvation, not to be repented of. Eccl. vii. 3, Sorrow is better
than laughter ; for by the fodnefs of the countenance the heart
is lasde better.
168 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III.
Moil precious when I am mod vile, b
And moil at home when in exile, c
My bafe and honourable birth
Excites my mourning and my mirth, d
a Prov. xiv. 13, Even in laughter the heart is forrowful ; and
the end' of that mirth is heavinefs.
b Job xL 4, Behold I am vile, what fhall I anfwer thee ? I will
lay my hand upon my mouth. Chap. xlii. 5, 6, I have heard of thee
by the hearing of the ear ; but now mine eye feet h thee. Where-
fore I abhor myfelf, and repent in duft and allies. Jer. xxxi. 18,
19, 30, I have furely heard Ephraim bemoaning himfelf thus,
Thou haft chafhfed me, and I was chaftiied, as a bullock unaccuf-
tomed to the yoke; turn thou me, and I fhall he turned; for thou
art the Lord my God. Surely after that I was turned, I repent-
ed, and after that I was inftructed, I fmote upon my thigh: I was
afhamed ; yea, even confounded, becaufe I d d bear the reproach
of my youth. Is Ephraim my dear fou, is he a pleafant child I '
for fi nee I fpake again ft him, I do earneftly remember him ftiil :
therefore my bowels are troubled for him ; I will furely have
mercy upon him, faith the Lord.
c Ezek. i. 1, Now it came to pafs in the thirtieth year, in the
fourth. month, in the fifth day of the month, (as I was among the
•captives by the river of Chebar,) that the -heavens were opened,
and I faw villous of God. Rev. i. 9, 10, I John, who alfo am your
brother and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and
patience of Jefus Chrift, was in the ifle that is called Patmos, for
the word of God, and for the teftimony of Jefus Chrift, I was in
the fpirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice,
as of a trumpet, &c. John xvi. 3a, Behold, the hour comtth, yea
is now come, that ye fit all be fcattered, every man to his own,
and fhall leave me alone ; and yet I am not alone, becaufe the
Father is with me.
d Ezek. xvi. 3, 4, Thus faith the Lord God unto Jerufalem, Thy
birth and thy nativity is of the land of Canaan ; thy father was
an Amorite, and thy mother an Hittite. And as for thy nativity
in the day thou waft born, thy navel was not cut, neither waft
thou warned, in water to fupple thee : thou waft not falted at all,
>\or fwaddled at all. John i. 13, which were born not of blood,
nor of the will of the flefh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Pfalm li. 5, Behold I was fhapen in iniquity ; and in iin did my
'mother conceive me. % Pet. i. 3, BleiTcd be the God and Father
of our Lord Jefus Chrift, which, according to his abundant mer-
cy, hath begotten us again unto a lively hope, by the refurreclion
*>i Jefus Chrift from the dead.
Sect. IV. THE BELIEVERS RIDDLE. 169
I'm poor, yet ftock'd with untold rent ; e
Moll weak, and yet omnipotent./
On earth there's none fo great and high,^
'Nor yet fo low and mean as I ; h
None or fo fooliih, i or fo wife ; k
So often fall, fo often rife. /
I, feeing him I never faw, m
Serve without fear, and yet with awe. n
9 Rev. iii. 17, Becaufe tliou fayeft, I am rich, and increafed with
goods, and have need of nothing ; and know til: not that thou art
wretched, and miferahle, and poor, and blind, and naked. I conn-
fel -thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou may tit be
rich ; and white raiment, that thou mayeft be clothed, and that
the ihame of thy nakednefs do not appear; and anoint thine eyes
with eye-falve, that thou mayeft fee. Eph. iii. 8, Unto me who
am lefs than the leaft of all faints, is this grace given, that I ihould
preach among the Gentiles the unfearchable riches of Chrift.
/John xv. 5, Without me ye can do nothing. Phil. iv. 13, I
can do all things, through Chrift which ftrengthenecTme.
g Pikirn xvi. 3, Bat to the faints that are in the earth, and to
the excellent, in whom is all my delight. Ifa. xliii. 4, Since thou
waft precious in my %ht, thou haft been honourable, and I have
loved thee : therefore will I give men for thee, and people for
thy life.
h Eph. iii. 8, See letter e. I Tim. i. 15, This is a faithful fay-
ing, and worthy of all acceptation, that Gbrlft Jcfds came into the
World to fave finuers ; of whom I am the chief.
i Pfalm lxxiii. 22, So fooliih was I, and ignorant ; T was as a
bcaft before thee. Prov. xxx. i, 3, Surely I am more brutifh than
any man, and have not the understanding of a man. L neither
learned wifdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy.
k 1 Cor. i. 30, But of him are ye in Chriil )efu£, who of God is
made unto us wifdom, &c. Matth. xi. 25, 26, At that time Jefus
anfwered and faid, I thank thee, O Father, lord of heaven and
earth, becaufe thou haft hid thefe .things fsom th? wife and pru-
dent, and haft revealed them unto babes. Zvcn fo, Father, for fo
it feemed good in thy fight. Chap. xiii. 11, jefus anfwered and
faid unto them, Becaufe it is given unto you to know the myfta-
ries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is net given.
/ Prov. xxiv. 16, A juft man falleth feven times, and rifeth up
again.
m I Tet. i. 8, Whom having not feen. ye love ; in whom though
now ye fee him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unfpeaka-
ble, and full of glory. Heb. xi. 1, Now faith is the fubftance of
things hoped for, the evidence of things not feen.
a Luke i. 74, That he would grant unto us, that we being <le~
P
%jo GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III.
Though love, when perfect, fear remove,©
Yet moft I fear when moft I love.^
All things are lawful unto me, q i
Yet many things unlawful be ;r
To fome I perfect hatred bear,/
Yet keep the law of love entire : s
I'm bound to love my friends, t but yet
I fin unlefs I do them hate : u
I am oblig'd to hate my foes,?*
Yet bound to love and pray for thofe.w
•livered out of the hands of our enemies, might ferve him without
fear. Heb. xii. 28, Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which
cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may ferve God
acceptably, with reverence and godly fear.
o i John iv. 1 8, There is no fear in love; but perfect love cafl-
cth out fear, becaufe fear hath torment ; he that feareth is not
made perfect in love.
p Jer. xxxfii. 9, And it (hall be to me a name and joy, a praife
and an honour before all the nations of the earth, which {hall
hear all the good that I d® unto them; and they fhali fear and
tremble for all the goodnefs, and for all the profperity that I can
procure unto it. Hof. iii. 5, Afterwards {hall the children of If-
rael return, and feek the Lord their God, and David their king,
and {hall fear the Lord, and his goodnefs in the latter days.
q 1 Cor. vi. 1 2, All things are lawful unto me, but all things
are not expedient : all things are lawful for me, but I will not be
brought under the power of any.
r Exod. xx. 1, 2, 3, &c. And God fpake all thefe words, faying,
1 am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land
of Egypt, out of the houfe of bondage. Thou {halt have no oth-
er gods before me, £ re.
/Pfalm exxxix. 21, 22, Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate
thee ? and am not I grieved with thofe that rife up againfl thee ?
I hate them with a perfect hatred, I count them mine enemies.
s 2 Chron. xix. 2, And Jehu the fon of Hanani the feer, went
out to meet him, and faid to king Jehofhaphat, Shouldft thou
help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord ; therefore is
wrath upon thee from before the Lord.
t Lev. xix. 18, Thou flialt not avenge, nor bear any grudge,
agamft the children of thy people, but thou flialt love thy neigh-
bour as thyfelf : I am the Lord.
u Luke xiv. 26, If any man come to me, and hate not his fa-
ther, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and lif-
ters, yea, and his own life alfo, he cannot be my difciple.
v As they are the foes of God. Judges v. 31, 'So let all thine
enemies perifh, O Lord ; but let them that love him be as the
Sect.V. THE BELIEVERS RIDDLE. 171
Heart love to men I'm call'ci t' impart*
Yet God Ml calls for all my hearts
I do him and his fervice both
By nature love, y by nature lothe. %
SECT. V. Myjieries about jtejh and fpirit, liberty and bond'
age, life and death*
Much like my heart both falfe and true, a
I have a name both old and new.£
fun when he goeth forth in his might. Pfalm xvii. 13, 14, Arife,
O Lord, difappoint him, caft him down: deliver my foul from
the wicked which is thy fword ; from men which are thy hand,
Lord, from men of the world, which have their portion in this
life, and whofe belly thou filleft with thy hid treafure : they are
full of children, and leave the reft of their fubftance to their
babes.
iv Matth. v. 44, But I fay unto you, love your enemies, blefs
them that curfe you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for
them which defpitefully ufe you, and perfecute you.
x Matth. xix. 19, Jefus faid uuto him, Thou flialt love thy neigh-
bour as thyfelf. Chap. xxii. 37, Thou ill a it love the Lord thy God
with all thy heart, and with all thy foul, and with all thy mind.
y 1 John v. 2, By this we know that we love the children of
God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
z Rom. viii. 7, The carnal mind is enmity againlt God; fork is
not fubjecx to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Col, i. 21,
And you that were fometimes alienated, and enemies in your minds
by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled.
a Jer. xvii. 9, The heart is deceitful above all things, and defpe-
rately wicked, who can know it ? Heb. x. 22, Let us draw near
with a true heart, in full aiTurance of faith, having our hearts
fprinkled from an evil confeience, and our bodies wafhed with
pure water.
b Rom. ix. 25, 26, As he faith alfo in Ofee, I will call them my
people, which were not my people ; and her, beloved, which was
not my beloved. And it fhall come to pafs, that in the place
where it was faid unto them, Ye are not my people ; there fhall
they be called, The children of the living God. Rev. ii. 1 7, He
that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit faith unto the
churches. To him that overcometh, will I give to eat of the hid-
den manna, and will give him a white ftone, and in the flone a
new name written, which no man kneweth, faving he that re-
eeiveth it. Chap. iii. 12, Him that overcometh will I make a pil-
lar in the temple of my God, and he fhall go no more out: and
1 will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the
172 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III.
No new thing is beneath the fun ;r
Yet all is new. and old things p-one.*-/
lr hough in my flefh dwells no good thing, <?
Yet Chrift in me I joyful SHg*/
Sin I confefs, and I deny 5
For though I fin, it is not 1.^
I fin againft, and with my will*j&
I'm innocent, yet guilty ftill.i
city of my God, which is New Jenifalem, which cometh dowia.
out of heaven from my God, and I will write upon him my new
name.
c EcdL i. 9/ The thing that hath been, it is that whieh fhall be :
and that which is done, is that which fhall be done : and there is.
no new thing under the fun.
d % Cor. v. 17, If any man be in Chrifl: he is a new creature;
old things are palled away, behold all things are become new.
Rev. xxi. 5, And he that fat upon the throne, laid, Behold, I make
all things new.
e Rom. vii. a8, For I know, that in me (that is K in my flefh)
dwelleth no good thing; for to will is prefent with me, but how
to perform that which is good, I find not.
f Col. i. 27, To whom God would make known what is the
riches of the glory of this myftery among the gentiles, which is
Chrift: in you the hope of glory.
g Rom. vii. 14, — 20, For we know that the lav/ is fpirltual ;
but I am carnal, fold under fin. For that which I do, I allow not ;
for what I would, that I do not ; but what I hate, that do I. If
then I do that which I would not, I confent unto the law that it is
good. Now then, it is no more I that do it, but fin that dwelleth
in me. For I know, that in me (that is, in my flefh) dwelleth no
good thing ; for to will is prefent with me, but how to perform
that which is good, I find not. For the good that I would, I do
not ; but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now, if I do that
I would not, it is no more I that do it, but fin that dwelleth in
me. I John iii. 9, Whofoever is born of God, doth not commit
fin ; for his feed remaineth in him ; and he cannot fin, becaufe
he is born of God.
b Rom. vii. ai, — 25, I find then a law, that when I would do
good, evil is prefent with me. For I delight in the law of God,
after the inward man. But I fee another law in my members,
warring againft the law of my mind, and bringing me into cap-
tivity to the law of fin, which is in my members. O wretched
man that I am. who {hall deliver me from the body of this death !
I thank God, through Jefus Chrift our Lord. So then, with the
mind I myfelf ferve the law of God, but with the flefh the law
of fin.
? Pfalm xix, 13, Keep back thy fervant alfo from prefumptuous
Sect. V. THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 173
Though fain I'd be the greateft faint, £
To be the leaft I'd be content./
My lownefs may my height evince, m
I'm both a beggar and a prince. #
With meaneft fubjecls I appear,
With kings a royal fceptre bear.^
I'm both unfettered and involv'd,^
By law condemn'd, by law abfolv'd. r
fins, let them not have dominion over me, then {hall I beuprightp,
and I fhall be innocent from the great tranfgreftion. And cxx.
3, If thou, Lord, fhouldft mark iniquity ; O Lord, who ihaib
ftand ?
k Pfalm xxvii. 4, One thing have I delired. of the Lord, that,
will I feek after, that I may dwell in the houfe of the Lord all the
days of my life, to behold the beauty of, the Lord, and to enquire
in his temple,
/ Pfalm Ixxxiv. 10, For. a day in thy courts is better than a
thoufand ; I had rather be a door keeper in the houfe of my God,
than to dwell in the tents of wickednefs.
m Job v. 11, To fet up on high thofe that he low; that thofe
which mourn may be exalted to fafety.
n 1 Sam. ii. 8, The Lord raifeth the poor out of the dud, and
liftethi up the beggar from the dunghill, to fet them among princ-
es/and to make them inherit the throne of glory ; for the pillars
of the earth are the Lord's^ and he hath fet the world upon them.
Gfen. xxxii. 28, And the angel faid, Thy name fhali be called no
more Jacob, but Ifrael ; for as a prince thou haft power with God,
and with men* and had prevailed. Rev. i. 5, 6, Unto him that
loved us, and wafhed.us from our lins in his own blood, and hath
made us kings and pri efts unto God'-, and his Father; to him be
glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Phil. ii. 10, 3That at the name of . Jefus every knee fhould-
bow, of things in heaven, and things in earch, and things under
the earth. Heb. i. 6, And again when he bringeth in the iirft
begotten into the world, he faith, and let all the Angels of God:
worihip him.
p Rev, ii. 26, 27-, And he that overcometh, and keepeth my
works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations :
(and he fliall rule them as with a rod of iron : as the vefTels of
a potter fliall they be broken to fhivers) even as I received of my
father.
q Pfalm cxvi. 16, Oh Lord, truly I am thy fervant ; T am thy
fervant, and the fon of thy handmaid : thou haft loofcd'rhy bonds.
Rom. vii. 23, But I fee another law in my members, warring
again ft the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the
law of fin, which is in my members.
r 1 John iii. 20, For if our heart condemn us, God is greater
P 2
174 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III.
My guilt cendignly pnnifh'd fee,
Yet I the guilty wretch go free..?
My gain did by my lofs begin \t
My righteoufnefs commenc'd by fin ;u
My perfect peace by bloody ftrife ;v
Life is my death, and death my life.w
I'm (in this prefent life I know)
A captive and a freeman too \x
And though my death can't fet me free,
It will perfect my liberty .y
than our heart, and knoweth all things. Rom. viii. I, There It
therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Chrift Jefus,
who walk not after the fleih, but after the Spirit, v. 3^, 34, Who
fhail lay any thing to the charge of God's elecSt. ? It is God that
juftifieth : who is he that eondemneth ? It is Chrift that died, yea,
rather that is rifen again, who is even at the right hand of God,
who alio maketh interceffion for us.
s Gal. iii. 13, Chrift hath redeemed us from the curfe of the
law, being made a curfe for us : for it is written, Curfed is every
one that hangeth on a tree.
/ Rom. iii. 23, 24, For all have finned, and come fhort of the
glory of God : being juftiiied freely by his grace, through the re-
demption that is in Jefus Chrift.
u Rom. iii. 5, But if our u n right eoufnefs commend the right*
eoufnefs of God, what fhail we fay? Chap, v. 20, 21, But where
fin abounded, grace did much more abound : that as fin hath
reigned unto death, even fo might grace reign through righteouf-
nefs, unto eternal life, by Jefus Chrift our Lord.
*u Col. i. 20, And (having made peace through the blood of his
crofs) by him to reconcile all things unto himfelf, by him, I lay,
whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
■ar.The life of fin is our death. 1 Tim. v. 6, But {he that liveth
in pleafure is dead while ihe liveth. The death of Chrift our life.
% Cor. v. 14, 15, For the love of Chrift conftraineth us, becaufe
we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead : and
that he died for all, that they which live, thould not henceforth
live unto themfeivcs, but unto him which died for them, and rofe
again.
x Rom. vii. 23, See letter q. Chap. viii. 2, For the law of the
Spirit of life, in Chrift Jefus, hath made me free from the law of
iin and death,
v John viii. 36, If the Son therefore fhail make you free, ye fhall
be free indeed. Rev. xiv. 13, And I heard a voice from heaven,
faying unto me, Write, BlefTed are the dead which die in the Lord,
from henceforth : Yea, faith the Spirit, that they may reft from
their labours ; and their works do follow them. 2 Cor. y. 4,
Sect. VI. THE BELIEVERS RIDDLE. 175
I am not worth one dufty grain,
Yet more than worlds^of golden gain ;
Though worthlefs I myfelt endite,
Yet fhall as worthy walk in white. %
SECT. VI. Themyjlcry of free jufification through Chrift* s
obedience and fatisfaclion*
No creature ever could or will
For fin yield fatisfaclion full ;a
Yet juftice from the creature's hand-
Both fought and got its full demand, h
Hence though I am, as well I know,
A debtor, c yet I nothing owe. d
For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened : net
for that we would not be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mor-
tality might be fwallowed up of life.
z Gen. xxxii. 10, I am not worthy of the leaft of all thy mer-
cies, and of all the truth which thou haft fhewed unto thy fer-
vant ; for with my ftaff I puffed over this Jordan, and now I am
become two bands. Rev. iii. 4, Thou haft a few names even in
Sardis, which have not defiled their garments; and they fhall
walk with me in white ; for they are worthy.
a Pfalm xlix. 8, For the redemption of their foul is precious,
and it ceafeth for ever. Ifa. xl. 16, And Lebanon is not fufheient
to burn, nor all the beafts thereof fufficient for a burnt offering.
b Pfalm xl. 6, Sacrifice and offering thou didft not defire, mine
cars thou haft opened : burnt offering and fin offering haft thou
»ot required. Heb. x. 5, 6, 7, Wherefore, when he cometh into
the world, he faith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldft. not, but
a body haft thou prepared for me : in burnt offerings and facri-
fices for fin thou haft had no pleafure ; then faid I, Lo I come
(in the volume of thy book it is written of me) to do thy wili,
O God. Eph. v. 2, Chrift hath loved us, and hath given himfelf
for us, an offering and a facrifice to God for a fweet fmelling far
vour.
c Matth. vi. 12, And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our
debtors.
d Rom. iii. 24, 25, Being juftified freely by his grace, through
the redemption that is in Jefus Chrift : whom God hath fet forth
to be a propitiation, through- faith in his blood, to declare his
righteoufnefs for the remiilion of fins that are paft, through the
forbearance of God. Heb. x. 14, For by one offering he hath
perfected for ever them that are fan&ified.
1 76 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III.
My creditor has nought to fay, e
Yet never had I aught to pay./
He freely pardon' d ev'ry mite,^
Yet would no fmgle farthing quit, h
Hence ev'ry bltis that falls to me
Is dearly bought, yet wholly free, i
All pardon that I need I have,
Yet daily pardon need to crave, k
The law's arreft keeps me in awe,/
But yet 'gainft me there is no law. m
e Rom. viii. 3$, 34, Who (hall lay any thing to the charge of
God's ele<5l ? Jt is Chrift that juftifieth ; who is he that condemn-
eth ? It is Chrift that died, yea rather, that is rifen again, who is
even at the right hand of God, who alfo maketh intercefiion for
* us.
yRom. v. 6, For when we were yet without ftrength, in due
time Chrift died for the ungodly, v. 8, But God commendeth.
his love towards us, in that while we were yet tinners, Chrift died
for us
\ g Adfcs xiii. 38, 39, Be it known unto you therefore, men and
brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgive—
nefs of tins : and by him all that believe are juftified from all
things, from which ye could not be juftified by the law of Mofes,
h Rom. iii. 24, 25, See letter d. Chap. viii. 22, He fpared not
his own Son, but delivered him up for us all.
/ 1 Pet. x-viii. 19, For as much as ye know that ve were noi
redeemed with corruptible things, as tilver and gold, from your
vain convcrfation received by tradition from your fathers ; but
with the precious blood of Chrift, as of a Lamb without blemifli
and without fpot. Eph. i. 7, In whom we have redemption through
his blood, the forgivenefs of fins, according to the riches of his
grace. 2 Tim. i. 9, Who hath faved us, and Called us with a ho-
ly calling ; not according to Our works, but according to his own
purpofe and grace which was given us in Chrift Jefus before the
world began.
k Pfalm ciii. 3, Who forgiveth all thine inicjuities, who healeth
all thy difeafes. And xxv. 11, For thy name's fake, O Lord, par-
don mine iniquity ; for it is very great. Luke xi. 4, And forgive
us our fins : for we alfo forgive every one that is indebted to us.
I)an. ix. 19, O Lord; hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken
and doj defer not for thine own fake, O my God ; for thy citya
and thy people, are called by thy name.
/ Pfalm cxix. 12a, My flefli trembieth for fear of thee, and I am
afraid of thy judgments. Rom. vii. 9, I was alive without the law
onee ; but when the commandment came, fin revived, and I died.
v. 13, Was then that which is good made death unto me ? God
I
Sect. VI. THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 177
Though truth my juft damnation crave, n
Yet truth's engag'd my foul to fave.
My whole falvation comes by this,
Fair truth and' mercy's mutual kifs./
Law-breakers ne'er its curfe have mifs'd ;
But I ne'er kept it, yet am qlefs'd. q
I can't be juftify'd by it, r
And yet it can't but me acquit./
forbid. But fin, thatjt might appear fin, working death in me by
that which is good ; that fin by the commandment might become
exceeding finful.
m Gal. v. 2-3, The fruit of the Spirit is — meeknefs, temperance,
againft fucji there is no law. I Tim. i. 9, Knowing this, that the
law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawlefs and dif-
obedient, &c.
n Ezek. xviii. 4, The foul that finneth. it fhall die.
1 Tim. i. 15, This is a faithful faying, and worthy of all ac-
ceptation, that Chrift Jefus came into "the world to fave finners ;
of whom I am the chief.
p Pfalm lxxxv. 10, Mercy and truth are met together; right-
eoufnefs and peace have kifTed each other.
q Gal. in. 10, As many as are of the work*? of the law, are under
the curfe ; for it is written, Curfed is every one that continued*
not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do
them. *<£ 13, 14, Chrift hath redeemed us from the curfe of the
law, being made a curfe for us ; for it is' written, Curfed is every
one that hangeth on a tree : that the bleffing of Abraham might
come on the Gentiles through Jefus Chrift ; that we might re-
cieve the promife of the Spirit through faith.
r Rom. iii. 20, Therefore by the deeds of the law, there fhall no
fleili be juftified in his fight : for by the law is the knowledge of
fin. Gal. ii. 16, Knowing that a man is not juftified by the works
of the law, but by the faith of Jefus Chrift, even we have believed
in Jefus Chrift; that we might be juftified by the faith of Chrift,
and not by the works of the law ; for by the works of the law fhall
no flefh be juftified. Chap. iii. 11, But that no man is juftified by
the law in the fight of God, it is evident ; for, the juft fhall live by
faith.
/Rom. viii. 1, There is therefore now no condemnation to them
which are in Chrift Jefus. v. 3, 4, For what the law coadd not
do, in that it was weak through the flefh, God fending his own
Son in the Kkenefs of finful flefh, and for fin, condemned fin in the
fiefli ; that the righteoufnels of the law might be fulfilled in us,
who walk not after the fleth, .but after the Spirit, a Cor. v. 21,
J*or he hath made him to be fin for us, who knew no fin ; that we
might be made the righteoufnefs of God in him. Rom. iii. 26, T«
178 GOSPEL SONNETS. Pa*t III.
I'm not oblig'd to keep it more, s
Yet more oblig'd than e'er before, t
By perfect doing life I find, u
Yet * do and live' no more me bind. n>
Thefe terms no change can undergo,
Yet fweetly chang'd they are : w for lo,
My doing caus'd my life, x but now
My life's the caufe that makes me do.
declare, I /ay, at this time his righteoufnefs ; that he might be jufl,
and the juftifier 0/ him which believcth in Jefus.
s Rom. vi. 14, Sin fhall not have dominion*over you ; for ye are
not under the law, but under grace. Gal. v. 1 — 4, Stand faft there-
fore in the liberty wherewith Chrift hath made us free, and be not
entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold I Paul fay un-
1 to you, that if ye be circumcifed, Chrift fhall profit you nothing.
For I teftify again to every man that is circumcifed, that he is a
debtor to do the whole law. Chrift is become of no effect unto
you, whofoever of you are juftified by the law ; ye are fallen from
grace.
t Rom. vi. 1, a, What fhall we fay then ? fhall we continue in
fin, that grace may abound ? God forbid ; how fhall we that are
dead to fin, live any longer therein ? v. 15, What then ? (hall we
fin, becaufe we are not under the tew, but under grace ? God for~
bid.
u Rom. v. 17, 18, 19, They which receive abundance of grace,
and of the gift of righteoufnefs, fhall rwga in life by one, Jefus
Chrift. By the righteoufnefs of one, the free gift came upon all
men to juftification of life. By the obedience of one fhall many
be made righteous.
v Rom. x. 5 — 9, For Mofes defcribeth the righteoufnefs which
is of the law, That the man which doth thefe things, fhall live
by them. But the righteoufnefs which is of faith fpeaketh on this
wife, Say not in. thine heart, Who fhall afcend into heaven ? (that
is, to bring Chrift down from above ;) or who mall defcend into the
deep ? (that is, to bring up Chrift again from the dead ;) but
what faith it ? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in
thy heart ; that is, the word of faith which we preach, That if
thou fhalt confefs with thy mouth the Lord Jefus, and flialt be-
lieve in thine heart, that God hath raifed him from the dead, thou,
ilialt be faved,
w Rom. iii. 31, Do we then make void the law through faith ?
God forbid ; yea, we eftablifh the law.
x Rom. x. 5, See letter v.
y John xiv. 19, Becaufe I live, ye fhall live alfo. Chap. xv. 5, 1
am the vine, ye are the branches ; he that abideth in me, and I in
him, the fame bringeth forth much fruit ; for without me ye can
tk> nothing. Rom, vii. 4, Wherefore, my brethren, ye alfo are be-
Sect. VI. THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 179
Though works of righteoufnefs I (tore, %
Yet righteoufnefs of works abhor ; a
For righteoufnefs without a flaw
Is righteoufnefs without the law. b
In duty's way I'm bound to lie,*
Yet out of duties bound to fly : d
Hence merit I renounce with fhame, e
Yet right to life by merit claim./
Merit of perfect righteoufnefs
I never had,^ yet never rnifs ; h
come dead to the law by the body of Chrifl ; that ye mould he
married to another, even to him who is raifed from the dead, that
we mould bring forth fruit mtto God. Ezek. xxxvi. 27, And I
will put my fpirit within you, and caufe you to walk in my fta-
tutes, and ye mall keep my judgments, and do them.
z Phil. i. 11, Being filled with the fruits of righteoufnefs, which
are by Jefus Chrifl unto the glory and praife of God.
a Phil. iii. 9, And be found in him, not having mine own right-
eoufnefs, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith
\)f Chrift, the righteoufnefs which is of God by faith. Ifa. lxiv. 6,
All our righteoufneiTes are as filthy rags. Romans iv. 6, Even as
David alfo defcribeth the bleffednefs of the man unto whom 'God
imputeth righteoufnefs without works.
b Rom. iii. 20, 21, 22, Therefore by the deeds of the law there
fliall no flefh be juflified in his fight ; for by the law is the know-
ledge of fin. But now the righteoufnefs of God without the law
is manifefted, being witnefTed by the law and the prophets ; even
the righteoufnefs of God which is by faith of Jefus Chrifl: unto
all, and upon all them that believe ; for thereat" no difference.
c Prow viii. 34, Bleffed is the man that heareth me, watching
daily at my gates, waiting at the pofts of my doors.
d Ifa. lvii. 12, I will declare thy righteoufnefs, and thy works,
for they fliall not profit thee. Luke xvii. 10, When ye mall have
done all thofe things which are commanded you, fay, We are un-
provable fervants; we have done that which was our duty to do*
e fPfalm xvi. 2, O my foul, thou haft faid unto the Lord, Thou
<art my Lord ; my goodnefs extendeth not to thee. Ezek. xxxvi,
32, Not for your fakes do I this, faith the Lord God, be it known
unto you ; be afhamed and confounded for your own -ways, O
houfe of Ifrael.
/Rom. v. 18, 19, By the righteoufnefs of one, the free gift came
upon all men unto juftification of life. By the obedience of one
mail many be made righteous. Ifa, xlv. 24, 25, Surely mall one
fay, In the Lord have I righteoufnefs and nrength ; even to hira
■fhall men come, and all that arc incen fed againft him fliall be
180 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III.
On this condition I have all, i
Yet all is unconditional, k
Though freed mercy I implore, /
Yet I am fafe on jiiftice' 6: ore. m
Which never could the guilty free, n
Yet fully clears moll guilty me. o
afhamed. In the Lord fhall all the feed of Ifrael be juflified, and
Ihall glory.
g Rom. iii. 9, 10, What then ? arc we better than they ? No, in
no wife ; for we have proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they
are all under fin ; as it is written, There is none righteous, no
not one. h, 19, Now we know, that what things foever the law
faith, it faith to them who are under the law ; that every mouth
may be flopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
h 1 Cor. i. 30, But of him are ye in Chrift Jefus, who of God is
made unto us — righteoufnefs. Ifa. xlv. 24, See letter/*. Jer. xxiii.
6, In his days Judah iliall be faved, and Ifrael fhall dwell fefeJy ;
and this is his name whereby he fhall be called, THE LORD
OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
i Ifa. xlii. 21, The Lord is well pleafed for his righteoufnefs
fake, he will magnify the law and make it honourable. Matth.
in. 15) Thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteoufnefs. 1/. 17, And
lo a voice from heaven, faying, This is my beloved Son, in whom
i am well pleafed.
k Ifa. Iv. 1, Ho, every one that thirfleth, come ye to the waters,
and he that hath no money, come ye, buy and eat ; yea, come,
buy wine and milk without money, and without price. Rev.
•ixii. 17, Whofoever will let him take of the water of life freely.
/ Pfalm li. 1, Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy
loving kindnefs ; according unto the multitude of thy tender mer-
cies, blot out my tranfgremons.
m Rom. iii. 24, 25, 26, Being juflified freely by his grace,
through the redemption that is in Jefus Chrifl : whom God hath
fet forth to be a propitiation, through faith in his blood, to de-
clare his rJghteoufhefs for the remiiTion of fins that are paft,
through the forbearance of God ; to declare, I fay, at this time
his righteoufnefs ; that he might be juft, and the jufHfier of him
which believeth in Jefus. 1 John i. 9, If we confefs our fins, he
is faithful and juft to forgive us our fins, and to cleanfe us from
fell un righteoufnefs.
n Exod. xxiv. 6, 7, And the Lord pafTed by before him, and
proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, — that will by no meacs
. clear the guilty.
o Rom. iv. 5, To him that worketh not, but believeth on him
that juftiiieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteoufn
Sect. VII. THE BELIEVER/* RIDDLE. 1S1
SECT. VII. Themvfiery of God the fufilfiep Rom. iii.
265 j >uji v ified both In his jujltfyhig and condemning : or foul-
jujiification and fclf -condemnation.
My Jefus needs not fave,# yet muft ; h
He is my hope, c I am his truft. d
He paid the double debt, well known
To be ail mine, yet all his own. e
Hence, though I ne'er had more or lefs
Of j 12 ft Ice pleating righteoufnefs,/"
Yet here is one wrought to my hand,
As full as juftice can demand, g
a Rom. ix. 5, Chrifl is over all, God bleffed for ever,
b John x. 16, And other fheep I have, which are not of this
fold : them alfo I muft bring, and they fliall hear my voice ; and
there mall he one fold, and one fhepherd. <i>. 18, No man takedi
it [my life] from me, but I lay it down of myfelf : I have power
to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This com-
mandment have I received of my Father. Luke ii. 49, And Jefus
laid unto them, [Jofeph and his mother] How is it that ye fought
me ? will ye not that I muft be about my Father's bufinefs ?
c Jcr. xiv. 8, O the hope of Ifrael, t\\e Saviour thereof in time
of trouble, &c. Chap. xvii. 17, Be not a terror unto me, thou art
my hope in the day^of evil. 1 Tim. i. 1, Paul an apoftle of Jefus
Chrifl; by the commandment of God our Saviour, and the Lord
Jefus Cfarift, which is our hope.
d John xvii. 6, I have manifefted thy name unto the men which
thou gaveft me out of the world ; thine they were, aiid thou gav-
eft. them me. 2 Tim. i. 1 2, I know whom \ have believed ; and 1
am perfuaded that he is able to keep that which I have commit-
ted unto him againft that day.
e Ifa. liii. 4, 5, 6, Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried
our forrows ; yet we did efleem him ftricken,fmitten of God, and
afflicted. But he was wounded for our tranfgreffions, he was
bruifed for our iniquities; the cnaftifement of our peace was up-
on him, and with his ftripes we are healed. All we like fheep
have gone aftray ; we have turned every one to his own way, and
the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. v. 8, For the
tranfgreflion of my people was he flricken. Keb. vii, 23, By fo
much was Jefus made a furety of a better teftament.
/Rom. iii, 9, 10, 19, See letter £ forecited.
g Dan. ix. 34, Seventy weeks are determined unon thy p< 1
O
i8z GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III.
By this my Judge is more appeas'd
Than e'er my fins his honour leas'd. h
Yea, juftice can't be pleas'd fo well
By all the torments borne in hell. l 9
Full fatisfa&ion here is fuch,
As hell can never yield fo much ; h
Though juftice therefore might me damn,
Yet by more juftice iav'd I am./
and upon thy holy city, to finifli the tranfgrefTion, and to make ait
end of fins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring
in everiaftiflg righteoufnefs, &c. Zech. xili. 7, Awake, d fword,
againft my Shepherd, and againfl the man that is my fellow, faith
the Lord of hofts : finite the Shepherd, and the fliecp fhall be
fcattered, and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.
h Rom. v. 8 — 11, But God commendeth his love towards us,
in that while we were finners, Chrift died for us. Much more
then being now juflined by his blood, we fhall be faved from
wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were rec-
onciled to God by the death of his Son ; much more being recon-
ciled, we ihall he faved by his life. And not only fo, but we al-
fo joy in Go# through our Lord Jefus Chrift, by whom we have
now received the atonement. Hcb. ix. 14, How much more fhall
the blood of Chrift, who, through the eternal Spirit offered him-
felf without fpot to God, purge your confeience from dead works
to ferve the living God f
i Heb. x. 5, 6, Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he
faith, Sacrifice and offering thou would ft not, but a body haft thou
prepared for me ; in burnt offerings and facrifices for fin thou
baft had no plcafure. «?. 14, By one offering he hath perfected for
ever them that are fanclified. v, 49, Of how much forer punifh-
ment fuppofe ye, mail he be thought worthy, who hath trodden
under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the
covenant wherewith he was fanclified, an unholy thing, and hath
done defpite unto the Spirit of grace.
k Rom. v. 11, See letter h. Eph. v. a, Chrift hath given him-
felf for us, an offering and a facrifice to God for a fweet fin cl ling
favour. 1 Pet. i. 18, 19, Forafmuch as ye know that ye were not
redeemed with corruptible things, as filver and gold, from your
vain converfation, received by tradition from your fathers ; but
with the precious blood of Chrift, as of a Lamb without blemifh
and without fpot. Gal. iii. 13, Chrift hath redeemed us from the
curfe of the law, being made a curfe for us.
/ 1 Pet. iii. 18, Chrift hath once fuffered for fins, the juft for t Tic
unjuft, (that he might bring us to God,) being put to death in the
flefh, but quickened by the Spirit. Rom. iii. 26, To declare, I fay,
at this time his righteoufnefs ; that he might be juft, and the jufti-
Sect. VII. THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. i8j
Here ev'ry divine property {
Is to the iiigheft fet on high ; m
Hence God his glory would injure,
If my falvation were not fure. n
My peace and fafety lie in this,
My Creditor my Surety is, o
The judgment day I dread the lefs,
My Judge is made my righteoufnefs. j*
He paid out for a bankrupt crew
The debt that to himfelf was due ;
And fatisfy'd himfelf for me,
When he did jultice fatisfy. q :
fier of him which believeth in Jefus._ I John ih 2, And he is the
propitiation for our fins ; and not for ours only, but alfo for the
fins of the whole world. Chap. iv. 10, Herein is love, not that
we loved God, but that he loved us, and fent his Son to be the
propitiation for our fins.
m Rom. iii. %$ % Whom God hath fet forth to be a propitiation,
through faith in his blood, to declare his righteoufnefs for the re-
million of fins that are paft, through the forbearance of (-Jod.
Pfalm lxxxv. 10, Mercy and truth are met together ; righteouf-
nefs and peace have killed each other. 2 Cor. v. 18, 19, And all
things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himfelf by Jefus
Chrift, and hath given to us the miniftry of reconciliation ; to wit,
that God was in Chrift, reconciling the world unto himfelf, not
imputing their trefpafTcs unto them ; and hath committed unto us ,
the word of/reconciliation, v. 21, For he hath made him to be iin
for us, who knew no iin ; that we might be made the righteouf-
nefs of God in him. Luke ii. 14, Glory ta God in the higheft,
and on earth peace, good will towards men.
n Ifa. xiiv. 23, Sing, O ye heavens ; for the Lord hath done it ;
ibout, ye lower parts of the earth ; break forth into iinging, ye
mountains, O foreffc, and every tree therein ; for the Lord hath
redeemed Jacob, and glorified himfelf in Ifrael. Eph. i. 6, To the
praife of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accept-
ed in the beloved, v. 12, That we fhould be to the praife of his
glory who firft trufted in Chrift.
o Pfalm cxix. 122, Be furety for thy fervant for good; let not
the proud opprefs me. Heb. vii. 22, By fo much was jefus made
a furety of a better teflament.
p 1 Cor. i. 30, But of him are ye in Chrift Jefus, who of God,
is made unto us — righteoufnefs. Chap. xv. 55, 56, 57, O death
where is thy fting ? O grave, where is thy victory ? The fling of
death is fin ; and the ftrength of hn is the law: But thanks be to
&od, which givcth us the victory, through our Lord Jefus Chrift.
i3 4 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III.
He to the law, though Lord of it,
Did moil obediently fuhrhit. r
"What he ne'er broke, and yet mull die,
I never kept, yet live mud Lf
The law, which him its keeper kill'd,
In me its breaker is fulfill' d ; s
He magnify' d and honoured more
Than fin defac'd it e'er before, t
Hence though the law condemn at large,
It can lay nothing to my charge ; u
q Zech. xiii. 7, See letter £. Rom. ix. 5, Chrifl: is over all, God
blefTed for ever. Phil. iii. 6, 7, 8, Chrifl Jefus being in the form
of God, thought it no robbery to be equal with God ; but made
himfelf of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a fer-
vant, and was made in the likenefs of men : and being found in
fafhion as a man, he humbled himfelf, and became obedient unto
death, even the death of the crofs.
r Hid, Gal. iv. q, 5, But when the fulnefs of the time was come,
God fent forth his Son made of a woman, made under the law, to
redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the
adoption of fons.
fi Pet. iii. 18, See letter /. % Cor. v. 21, See letter m. 1 John
iv. 9, In this was manifefted the love of God towards us, becaufe
that God fent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might
live through him.
s Rom. viii. 3, 4, For what the law could not do, in that it was
weak through the flefh, God fending his own Son, in the likenefs
of finful flefh, and for fin condemned fin in the flefh ; that the
righteoufnefs of the law r might be fulfilled in us, who walk not af-
ter the flefh, but after the Spirit.
t Ifa. xlii. ai, The Lord is well pleafed for his righteoufnefe'
fake ; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable. Rom. v.
1 8-— 21, Therefore, as by the offence of one, judgment came upon
all men to condemnation : even fo by the righteoufnefs of one,
the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For, as
by one man's difobedience many were made finners : fo by the
obedience of one fhall many be made righteous. Moreover, the
law entered, that the offence might abound ; but where fin
abounded, grace did much more abound ; that as fin hath reign-
ed unto death, even fo might grace reign through righteoufnefs
unto eternal life, by Jefus Ch rift our Lord.
u Rom. viii. t, There is therefore now no condemnation to them
winch are in Ghrift Jeftts. <v. 3, /}, See letter s. n>. 33, 34, Who
fhall lay ai to the charge of God's elect ? It is God that
jttftlfieth: th_at eondemneth ? It is Clirift that died,
Sect. VII.
Nor find fuch ground to challenge me,
saven hath found to juftify. v
though he freely me remit,
/er can myfelf acquit, iv
fudge condemns me not, I grant ;
juftify myfelf I can't, x
him I have a pardon got,
et myfelf I pardon not. y
ich forgivenels Mil I have, ■■- \
never can myfelf forgive, a
more he's toward me appeas'd, a
more I'm with myfelf diipleas'd,
more I am abfolv'd by him,
more. I do myfelf condemn, b
rather, that is rifeii agaim who is even at the right hand of God*
who ajfb mað Intereefuon for us.
*w Job xxxiii. 24, Then he is gracious unto him, and faith, De-
liver iiim from going down to the pit, I have found a ranfom.
Rom. iii. 25, $6, Whom God hath fet forth to be a propitiation*
through faith
million of (ins
declare, ! fay,
id the ii
<tu % Sam. xi
againft the L
J l <
n Ins blood, to declare his righteoulhefs for the re-
:ha;Tare pail, through the forbearance of God; to
tt tins time, his righteou fuels ; that he might be
(tifier of him which foelitveth.-in Jefus,
, 1 $, And David laid unto. Nathan, I have finned
rd. And Nathan faid unto David, The Dord alfo
hath put away thy fin ; thou iTialt not die. Pfalm li. 2, 3, Wall*
me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanfe me from my fin.
For I acknowledge my tranfgrelQons : and my (in is ever before
me.
x Rom. viii. t, 33, See letter u. Job ix. 20, If T }uffefy myfelf,
mine own mouth .fh all condemn me ; If I fay I am perfect, it ihail
alfo prove me perverfe.
y 1 Cor. vii. I, For behold, this fel'f fame thing that ye forrow-
ed after a godly fort, what carefulnefs it wrought in you,, vea,
what clearing of yourfeives, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear 5
yea, what vehement deure, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge !
z Ifa. xxxviii. 15, What mall I fay ? he hath both fpoken unto*
me, and himfeif hath done it : I fhall go foftly all my years in the
bitternefs of my foul.
a Ezek. xvi. 63, That thou mayeft remember and be confound-
ed, and never open thy mouth any more, becaule of thy fhame,
when I am pacilied toward thee, for all that thou hall done, faith
the Lord God
b Luke xviii. 13, 14, And the publican Handing afar ol7, would
i86 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part 1H.
When he in heaven dooms me to dwell,
Then I adjudge rr.yfelf to hell ; c /
Yet fliil I to his judgment gree,
And clear him for abfolving me. d
not lift up fo much as Ins eyei unto heaven, but fmote upon his
breaft, faying, God be merciful to me a firmer. I tell you this
man went down to his houfe jufKfled rather than the other : for
every one that jtxalteth hirafelf,fhall be abafed ; and he that hum-
bleth himfelf, fhall be exalted. Ezek. xxxvi. 31, 32, Then fhall
ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings, that were not
good, and fliau lothe yourfelves in your own fight for your iniqui-
ties, and for your abominations. Nor for your fakes do I this,
faith the Lord God, be it known unto you -/be afhamed and con-^
founded for your own ways, O houfe of Ifrael. Jer. xxxi. 19, Sure-
ly after that i was turned, I repented ; and after that I was in-
ftrucled, I fmote upon my thigh ; I was afhamed, yea, even con-
founded, becaufe I did bear the reproach of my youth.
c Matth. xxv. 34—39, Then fhall the King fay unto them on
his right hand, Come, ye blefied of my Father, inherit the king-
dom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was
an hungered, and ye gave me meat ; I was thirfty, and ye gave me
drink ; I was a itranger, and ye took me in ; naked, and ye cloth-
ed me ; I was fick,and ye viiited me ; I was in^rifon, and ye came
unto me. Then fhall the righteous anfwer him, faying, Lord,
when faw we thee an hungered, and fed thee ? or thirfry, and
gave thee drink ? When faw we thee a itranger, and took thee in ?
or naked, and clothed thee ? Or when faw we thee iick, or in
prifoh, and came unto thee ? 1 Cor. xi. 31, If we would judge our-
felvcs, we fhcuid not be judged. Luke xv. 20, 21, And he (the
prodigal fon) arofe .and came to his father. But when he was yet
a great way ofT, his father faw him, and had companion, and ran,
and fell on his neck, and killed him. And the fon faid unto him,
Father, I have finned againft heaven, and in thy fight, and am no
more worthy to be called thy fon. Gen. xxxii. 9, 10, And Jacob
faid, O God of my Father Abraham, and God of my Father Ifaac,
the Lord which faiclfc unto me, Return unto thy country, and to
thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee ; T am not worthy of
the lead of all the mercies, and of all the truth which thou haft
fhewedrunto thy fervant \ for with my ftaffl palled over this Jor-
dan, and now I am become two bands.
d Pfalm li. 4, Againft thee, thee only have I finned, and done
this evil in thy fight ; that thou mighteft be juftified when thou
fpeakeft, and be clear when thou judgeft. And xi. 7, The right-
eous Lord loveth righteoufnefs, his countenance doth behold the
upright. And cxlv. 16, 17, Thou openeft thine hand, and fatisfic/t
the dtfires of every living thing. The Lord h righteous in all his
Sect. VIII.
)DLE.
Thus he clears me, and I him clear,
I juftify my Juftifler. e
Let him condemn or juftify,
From all injuitice I him fiee.f
SECT. VIII. The myjlery of fanfiification hnperfeEi in this
life ; or i 'Wrie!k r oer doing all, and doing nothing.
Mine arms embrace my God, a yet I
Had never arms to reach fo high ; h
ways, and holy in all his works. Rev. xv. 3, And they fing the
fong of the fervant of God, and the foflg of the Lamb, faying,
Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty ; juft
and true are thy ways, thou King of faints..
e Rom. iii. 26, To declare, I fay, at this time his righteoufnefs ;
that he might be juft, and the juftifier of him which believeth in
Tefus. Ifa. xlv. 21, There is no God elfe befide me, a jiift God and
a Saviour, v, 24, Surely fliall one fay, In the Lord have I right-
eoufnefs and ilrength. Chap. Ixiii. 1, Who is this that cometh from
Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah ? This that is glorious in
Lh apparel, travelling in the greatnefs of his flreugth ? I that
fpeak in righteoufnefs, mighty to fave. Zech. ix. 9, Rejoice great-
ly, O daughter of Zibn ; fhout, O daughter of Jerufalem : behold
thy King cometh unto thee ; he is juft, and having falvation, &c
/Job xxv. 4, 5, 6, How then can man be juftifled with God ?
or, how can he be clean 3 that is born of a woman ? Behold even to
the moon, and it fhineth not ; yea, the ftars are not pure in his
fight. How mud^-lcfs man that is a worm; and the fon of man
which is a worm ? Ffalrn Ixxxix. 14, juftice and judgment are the
habitation of thy throne ; mercy and truth fhali go before thy
face. And xcvii. a, Clouds and darknefs are round about him ;
righteoufnefs and judgment are the habitation of his throne.
Rom. iii. 19, 20, Now we know that what things foever the law
faith, it faith to them who are under the law: that every mouth
may be flopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
Therefore, by the deeds of the law there fhall no flcfh be juflified
in his fight ; for by the law is the knowledge of fin. v. 23, 24,
35, For all have finned, and come fhort of the glory of God ; be-
ing juflified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in
Jcfus Chrift : whom God hath fet forth to be a propitiation,
through faith in his blood, to declare his righteoufnefs for the re-
minion of fins that are paft ; through the forbearance of God.
Pfalin xxii. 2, 3, O my God, I cry in the day time, but thou hear-*
185
GOSPEL SONNETS.
Part III.
His arm alone me holds, c yet lo,
I hold and will not let him go. d
I do according to his call,
And yet not I, but he does all ; e
But though he works to will and do,/
I without force work freely too. g
His will and mine agree full well, i
Yet difagree like heav'n and hell, i
eft not ; and in the night fcafon, and am not filcnt. - But thou art
holy, O thou that inhabited: the praifes of Ifrael.
a Song iii. 4, It was but a little that I pa-ffed from them, but I
found him whom my foul loveth ; I held him, and would not let
him go, until I had brought him into my mother's houfe, and in-
to the chamber of her that conceived me.
b Pfalm Ixi. 2, From the end of the earth will I cry unto thtfe,
when my heart is overwhelmed ; lead me to the rock that is high-
er than I.
c Pfalm Ixiii. 8, My foul fclloweth hard after thee ; thy right
hand uphcldeth me. If a. xli. 10, Fear thou not, for I am with
thee ; be not difmayed, for I 3m thy God; I will ftrengthen thee,
yea.. ! will help thee, yea, 1 will uphold thee with the right haad
of my righteoufneis.
d Gen. xxxii. 2,6, And he (the pngel) faid, Let me go, for the
day breaketh . And he (Jacob) faid, I will not let thee go 5 except
thou blefs me.
e 1 Cor. xv. 10, But by the grace of God I am what I am; and
his grace which was beftowed upon me, was not in vain ; but I
laboured more abundantly than
ail ; yet not I, but the grace
of God which was with me. v. 58, Therefore, my beloved breth-
ren, be ye ftedfaft, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of
the Lord, forafmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vaiix
in the Lord.
/Phil. ii. 13, It is God which worketh in you, both to will and
to do of his good pieaiure.
g Pfalm ex. 3, Thy people mall be willing in the day of thy
power. And cxvi. 16, Oh Lord, truly I am thy fervant, I am-
thy fervant, and the fon of thy handmaid ; thou haft loofed my
l>onds.
h Matth. vi. 10, Thy will be done in earth as it is
Pfalm xl. 8, I delight to do thy will, O my God ; yea, thy !
within my heart.
i Matth. xxi. 28, 29, A certain man had two fons, and he
to the firft, and faid. Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He
^nfwered and faid. I will not, &c. John v. 40, Ye v/ill not come
to me, that ye might have life. Matthew xxiii. 37, O Jerusalem,
mt, I am-
>fed my
£
Sect. VIII. THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 189
His nature's min?,£ and mine is his ; /
Yet fo was never that nor this, m
I know him and his name, yet own
Ke and his name can ne'er be known, n
His gracious coming makes me do ;
I know he comes, yet know not how.
I have no good but what he gave,/
Yet he commends the good I have ; q
Jcrufalem, thou that killeft the prophets, and ftoneit them which
are fent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children
together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, .
and ye would not !
k % Pet, i. 4, Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and
precious promifes; that by thefe ye might be partakers of the
divine nature.
/ Heb. ii. 14, Forafmuch then as the children are partakers of
flefh and blood, he alio himfelf likewife took part of the fame.
i\ 16, For verily he took not on him the nature of angels ; but he
took on him the feed of Abraham.
m Ifa. xl. 17, All nations before him are as nothing, and they
are counted to him lefs than nothing, and vanity. To whom then
will ye liken God ? or what likenefs will. ye compare unto him ?
n Pfalm ix. 16, They that know thy name will put their truft
in thee. Prov. xxx. 3, 4, I [Agur] neither learned wifdom, nor
have the knowledge of the holy. Who hath afcended up into
heaven, or defcended ? who hath gathered the winds in his Sfts ?
who hath bound the waters in a garment ? who hath eftablifhed
all the ends of the earth ? what is his name ? and what is his fon's
name, if thou canft tell ?
Song iv. 16, Awake, O north wind ; and come, thou foutht
blow upon my garden, that the fpices thereof may flow out : let
my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleafant fruits.
John iii. 8, The wind bloweth where it lifteth, and thou heareft
the found thereof, but canft not tell whence it cometh, and whith-
er it goeth ; fo is every one that is born of the Spirit.
p 1 Chron. xxix. 14, And David faid, — But who am I, and what
is my peeple, that we fliould be able to offer fo willingly afcer
this fort ; for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we
given thee, a Cor. iii. 5, Not that we are fufficient of ourfelves
to think any thing as of ourfelves ; but our fumciency is of God.
q 2 Cor. x. 185 For not he that commendeth himfelf is approv-
ed, but whotn the Lord commendeth. Rom. xii. 1, 2, I b:
you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye prtfent
your bodies a living facrifice, holy, acceptable QiitQ God, which i$
190 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III.
And though my good to him afcencls, r
My goodnefs to him ne'er extends./
I take hold of his cov'nant free, s
But find it mud take hold of me. t
I'm bound to keep it, u yet 'tis bail,
And bound to keep me without fail, v
your reasonable fervice. And be net conformed to this world :
but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may
prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.
r Pfalm xxv. 1, Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift my foul : and cxli.
a, Let my prayer be fet forth before thee as incenfe ; and the lift-
ing up oi my hands as the evening facriiice. Eph. iii. 2, In whom
[Chrift Jefus] we have boldnefs and accefs with confidence by the
faith of him. Heb. x. 19, Having therefore, brethren, boldnefs to
enter into the holieft by the blood of Jefus, &c.
/ Pfalm xvi. 2, O my foul, thou haft laid unto the Lord, Thou
art my Lord ; my goodnefs cxtendeth not to thee.
s Ifa. lvi. 4, Thus faith the Lord unto the eunuchs that — take
hold of my covenant, &c. v. 6, Alfo the fons of the ftranger that
join themfelves to the Lord, to ferve him, and to love the name
of the Lord, to be his fervants, every one that — taketh hold of my
covenant, <Sbc.
t Zech. i. 6, But my words and my flatutes which I command-
ed my fervants the prophets, did they not take hold of your
fathers ? and they returned and laid, Like as the Lord of hoftg
thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to
our doings, fo hath he dealt with us. Pfalm ex. 2, 3, The Lord
£hall fend the rod of thy ftrength out of Zion ; rule thou in the
midft of thine enemies. Thy people {hall be willing in the day of
thy power, Sec, Rom. i. 16, I am not afhamed of the gofpel of
Chrift ; for it is the power of God unto falvation, to every one thst
believeth, to the Jew firft, and alfo to the Greek, a Cor. ii. 16, To
the other we are the favour of life unto life : and who is fufficient
for thefe things.
a Pfalm ciii. 17, 18, The mercy of the Lord is from everlafting
to everlafting upon them that fear him : and his righteoufnefs un-
to children's children ; to fuch as keep his covenant, and to thofe
that remember his commandments to do them. John xvii. 6, I
havemanifefted thy name unto the men which thou gaveft me out
of the world : thine they were, and thou gaveft them me ; and they
have kept thy word.
if Pfalm Ixxxix. 33—36, Neverthelefs my loving kindnefs will
I not utterly take from him, nor furTer my faithfulnefs to fail.
My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out
$>f my lips. Once have I fworn by my hoiinefs, that I will not lie
_
Sect. VIII. THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 191
The bond on my part cannot laft za
Yet on both fides ftands firm and fail, x
I break my bands at every fhock,
Yet never is the bargain broke. y
Daily, alas ! I difobey, «
Yet yield obedience ev'ry day. a
I'm an imnerfedt perfect man, b
Tliat can do all, yet nothing can. c
unto David. His feed fhall endure for ever, and his throne a*
the fun before me.
qg Ffalm Ixxxix. 30, 31, 32, If his children forfake my law, and
walk not in my judgments ; if they break my ftatutes, and keep
not my commandments ; then will I viiit their tranfgreflion with
the rod,, and their iniquity with (tripes.
x Pfalm Ixxxix. 2, 3, 4, For I have faid, Mercy fhall be built up
for ever; thy faithfulnefs fhalt thou eitabli{l>in the very heavens.
} have made a covenant with my Chofen, I have fworn unto Da-
vid my fervant. Thy feed will I eftablifh for ever, and build up
thy throne to all generations. <v. 28, 29, My mercy will I keep
for ever more, and my covenant fhall ftand fad with him. His
feed alfo will I inake to endure for ever, and his throne as the
days of heaven. Jer. xxxii. 40, And I will make an everlafting
covenant with them, and I will not turn away from them to do
them good ; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they may
not depart from me.
y Pfalm Ixxviii. 37, Their heart was not right with him, nei-
ther were they ftedfafi in his covenant. Ifa- liv. 10, The moun-
tains fhall depart, and the hills be removed, but my kindneis iTiali
not depart from thee, neither {hall the covenant of my peace be
removed, faith the Lord 5 that hath mercy on thee.
2: James iii. 2, In many things we offend all.
<? Pfalm lxi. 8, So will I ling unto thy name for ever, that I may
daily perform, my vows. Heb. iii. 13, But exhort one another dai-
ly while it is called, To-day ; left any of you be hardened through
the deceitfulnefs of fin.
/• Pfalm xxxvii. 37, Mark the perfect man, and behold the up-
right ; for the end of that man is peace. Rev. iii. 2, Be watchful,
and flrengthen the things which remain, that are read/ to die; for
I have not found thy work perfect before God.
c Phil. iv. 13,1 can do all things through Chriil: which flrength-
eneth me. John xv. 5, I am the vine, ye are the branches : He
that abideth in me, and I in him, the fame bringeth forth much
fruit ; for without me ye can dp nothing.
i 9 z GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III.
I'm from beneath, d and from above, e
A child of wrath,/ a child of love- £
A ft ranger e'en where all may know j
A pilgrim, yet 1 no where go. h
I trade abroad, yet (lay at home ; i
My tabernacle is my tomb, k
I can be prifon'd, yet abroad ;
Bound hand and foot, yet walk with Ccd. /
rfjohn viii. 23, And Jefus faid unto the Jews, Yc are from be-
neath. — : ye are of this world. &c.
c Gal. iv. 26, Jerufalem which is from above, is free, which is
the mother of us all. v*%% 9 Now, we, brethren, as Ifaac was, are
the children of promife. John i. 13, Which were born not of
d, nor of the will of the flefli, nor of the will of man, bat of
God. VLrsd iii. j, 6, Jefus anfwered, Verily, verily, I fay unto
thee, (Nicodemus) Except a man be born of water and of the Spir-
it, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God, That which is born
of the Spirit is fpirit.
/Eph. ii. 3, We — were by nature the children of wrath, even
as others.
^"Rom. iv. 8 — The children of the promife are counted for the
feed.
h Heb. xi. 13, Thefe all — confefTed that they were ftrangers
and pilgrims on the earth. 1 Pet. ii. 11, Dearly beloved, I be-
fcech you as itrangers and pilgrims, &c.
i Phil. iii. 2,0, For our converfation is in heaven, from whence
alfo we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jefus Chrift.
h 2 Cor. v. 1, 2, Fcr we know, that if our earthly houfe of this
tabernacle were diffolved, w r e have a building of God, an houfe
not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan,
cafneftly, defiring to be cloathed upon with our houfe which is
from heaven, v. 4, For we that are in this tabernacle do groan,
being burdened : not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed
upon, that mortality might be fwallowed up of life.
/ Acts xvi. 24, 25, The jailor, having received fuch a charge,
thruft them into the inner prifon, and made their feet fad in the
flocks. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and fang praifes
tint© God. .2 Tim. ii. 9, Wherein I fuffer trouble as an evil doer,
even unto bonds ; but the word of God is not bound, 2 Cor. vL
4, 5, But in all things approving ouffelves as the minifkrs of
0od, in much patience, in aiHidlions, in necehTdes, in difireffes, in
i" pes, in imprifonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in
iaiHnrs.
Sect. IX. THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 193
SECT. IX. The myjlery of various names given to faints
and church of Chrijl ; or the Jlejh and Spirit defcrlbed
from_ inanimate things, vegetables and fenfiiives .
To tell the world my proper name,
Is both my glory and .my fhame : a
For like my black but comely iace,
My name is Sin, my name is Grace, b
Moft fitly I'm affimilate
To various things inanimate ;
A fending lake, c a running flood, d
A fixed ftar, e a palling cloud.y
m Hof. i. 9, Then laid God, Call his name Loammi i for ye are
not my people, and I will not be your God. And ii. I, Say ye un-
to your brerhren, Ammi, and to your lifters, Ruhamah. v. 23,
And I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy,
iuid I will fay to them which were not my people, Thou art my
people ; and they mall fay, Thou art my God.
b Song i. 5, I am black but comely, O ye daughters of Jerufa-
I em, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon. 1 Tim. i.
15, This^is a faithful faying, and worthy of all acceptation, that
Chrifl jefus came into the world to fave miners of whom I ani
chief. Ifa. Ixii. 2, 3, And the Gentiles ihali fee thy righteoufnei.:,
and all kings thy glory : and thou fhalt be called by a new name,
which the mouth of the Lord ihall name. Thou malt alfo be a.
crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in
the hand of thy God.
c Jer. xlviii. 11, Moab hath been at eafe from his youth, and he
hath fetded on his lees, and hath not been emptied from velfe! to
vefTel, neither hath he gone into captivity : therefore, his taftc
remained in him, and his fcent is not changed.
d Ifa. xliv. 3, I will pour water upon him that is thirfty, and
Hoods upon the dry ground ; I wijl pour my Spirit upon thy iced,
and my blefling upon thine offspring.
e Dan. xii. 3, And they that be wife, fliali fhine as the bright-
nefs of the firmament ; and they that turn many to righteouinefs,
as the ftars for ever and ever — And in opftfiticu to ihofi called 'wand-
ering (lars, Jude 13.
/Hof. vi. 4, O Ephraim/what fhall I do unto thee ? O Judah
what fliali I do tin to thee ? for your goodnefs is a« a morning
cloud, and as the earlv clew it goeth away.
R
554 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III.
A Cake unturn'd, nor cold, nor hot ;g
A veffel found, h a broken pot : i
A rifmg fun, k a drooping wing ; /
A flinty rock, m a flowing fpring, n
A rotten beam, o a virid ftera ;p
A menftruous cloth, q a, royal gem ; r
A garden barr'd,/an open field ; s
A gliding ftream, / a fountain feal'd. u
g Hof. vii. 8, Ephraim, he hath mixed himfelf among the pea-
pie. Ephraim is a cake not turned. Rev. iii. 15, I know thy
works, that thou art neither cold nor hot ; I would thou wert cold
or hot.
£ Rom. ix. si, Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the
fame lump to make one vefTel unto honour, and another unto dis-
honour ?
t Pfalm xxxi. ia, I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind ;
I am like a broken vefTel.
h Matth. xiii. 43, Then fhall the righteous fliine forth as the
fan, in the kingdom of their Father.
/ Pfalm lv. 6, And I faid, O that I had wings like a dove ! for
then would I fly away, and be at reft.
m Zech. vii. ia, They made their hearts as an adamant ftone,
left they fhould hear the law, and the words which the Lord of
hofts hath fent in his Spirit, by the former prophets.
n John. iv. 13, 14, Jefus anfwered and faid unto her — Whofo-
ever drinkcth of the water that I fhall give him, fhall never thirft ;
but the water that I fhall give him, fhall be in him a well of wa-
ter, fpringing up unto everlafting life.
o Ifa. xvii. 9, to, In that day fhall his ftrong cities be as a for-
faken bough, and an uppermoft branch, which they left, becaufe
of the children of Ifrael : and there fhall be defolation. Becaufe
thou haft forgotten the God of thy falvation, and haft not been
mindful of the rock of thy ftrength; therefore fhalt thou plant
pleafant plants, and {halt fet it with ftrange flips. Chap, xxvii.
IT, When the boughs thereof are withered, they {hall be brc'
off ; the women came and fet them on fire ; for it is a peo]
no underftanding, &c.
p Prov. xi. 2%, The righteous fhall flourifh as a branch
xcii. 1 2-, 13, The righteous fhall flourifh like the palm tree
fhall grow like the cedar in Lebanon. Thofe that be plant
the houfe of the Lord, fhall flouriih in the houfe of our Goc
q Ifa. xxx. 32, Ye fhall defile alfo the covering of thy graven
images of filver, and the ornament of thy molten images of gold :
thou fhalt caft them away as a menftruous cloth, fhall fay unto it,
Get thee hence. Chap. lxiv. 6, But we are all as an unclean
thing, and our righteoufnefles are as filthy rags.
1 piant
xxvii.
5
se; he
:,d.
Sect. IX, THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. % £
Of various vegetables fee
A fair and lively map in me.
^ A fragrant role, v a noifome weed 5 w
A rotting, # yet immortal feed.^y
I'm with'ring grafs, % and growing corn 5 a
A pleafant plant, b an irkfome thorn ; c
An empty vine, d a fruitful tree ; e ;
An humble fhrub,/a cedar high.£
r Ifa. Ixii. 3, Thou fhalt alfo be a crown of glory in the hand'
©f the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hands of thy God,
/Song iv. 1 a, A garden enclofed is my lifter, my fpoufe.
s Matth. xi%>4; 25, Another parable he put forth unto them,
laying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which fow-
ed good feed in his field ; but while men flept, his enemy came
and fowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
/ Song iv. 5, (My lifter is) a fountain of gardens, a well of liv-
ing waters, and ftreams from Lebanon,
u Song iv. 12, A fpring fhut up, a fountain fealed, is my lifter,
my fpoufe.
<v Ifa. xxxv. 1, The wildernefs and the folitary place fhall be
glad for them ; and the defert fhall rejoice and bloffom as the rofe.
iv Ifa. v. 4, What could have been done more to my vineyard,
that I have not done in it ? wherefore, when I looked that it
fiiould bring forth grapes, it brought forth wild grapes.
x Gen. iii. 19, In the fweat of thy face fhalt thou eat bread, till
thou return unto the ground ; for out of it waft thou taken ; for
dull thou art, and unto duft thou fhalt return;
y 1 Pet. i. 23, Being born again, not of corruptible feed, but of
incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for-
ever.
z Ifa. xl. 7, The grafs withereth, the flower fadeth ; becaufe the
Spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it ; furely the people is grafs.
a Hof. xiv. 7, They that dwell under his lhadow fhall return ;
they fhall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine : the fcent
thereof fhall be as the wine of Lebanon.
h Ifa. v. 7, The vineyard of the Lord of hofts is the houfe of
Ifrael, and the men of Judah his pleafant plant.
\ c Mic. vii. 4, The befr, of them is a brier ; the moft upright is
{harper than a thorn hedge.
d Hof. x. 1, Ifrael is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit un-
to himfclf.
e Pfalm i. 3, And he fhall be like a tree planted by the rivers
of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his i^zibn ; his leaf alfb
fhall not wither, and whatfoevcr he doth (hall profper.
y'Ezek. xvii. 5, 6, He (a great - : alio of the feed of
the land, and planted it in a fruitful field; he placed it by great w#»
196 GOSrEL SONNETS. Part III.
A noxious brier, h a harmlefs pine i i
A faplefs twig, k a bleed in ij vine : /
A ftable fir, m a pliant buih ; n
A noble oak, o a naughty rufh./>
With fenfitives I may compare, *
While I their various nature fhare :
Their diftincl: names may jullly fuit
A flxange, a reafonable brute, q
ters, and fet it as a willow tree. And it grew, and became a fpread-
ing vine of low flature, whofe branches turned toward him, and
the roots thereof was turned toward him ; fo it became a vine, and
brought forth branches, and fhot forth fprigs. <v 24, And all the
trees of the field fhall know that I the Lord have brought down
the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the greerw
tree, and have made the dry tree to flourifh : I the Lord have
fpoken and have done it. Mark iv. 30, 3 1, And Jefus faid, Where-
unto fhall ye liken the kingdom of God ? or, with what compan-
ion fliall we compare it ? It is like a grain of muftard feed, which,
when it is fown on the earth, is lefs than all the feeds that be in
the earth.
g Pfalm xcii. 12, The righteous fliall grow like a cedar in Leb-
anon.
h Mic. vii. 4, See letter c.
i Ifa. xli. 19, I will fet in the defert the fir tree, and the pine,
and the box tree together.
k John xv. 4, Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch can-
not bear fruit- of itfelf, except it abide in the vine; no more can
ye, except ye abide in me. ik 6, If a man abide not in me, he is
call; forth as a branch, and is withered.
/ John xv. 5, 1 am the vine, ye arfc the branches : He that abid-
eth in me, and I in him, the fame bringeth forth much fruit ; for
without me ye can do nothing. Song ii. 13, The fig tree putteth
forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a
good fmell. v 15, Take us the foxes, the little foxes that fpoil
the vines ; for our vines have tender grapes*
m Ifa. Iv. 13, Inftead of the thorn fliall come up the fir tree, and
inftead of the brier fliall come up the myrtle tree ; and it fliall be to
the Lord for a name, for an everlafting fign that fliall not be cut off.
And lx. 13, The glory of Lebanon fliall come unto thee, the fir
tree, the pine tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of
my fan&uary, and I will make the place of my feet glorious.
n Matth. xi. 7, And as they departed, Jefus began to fay unto
the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wil-
dernefs to fee ? A reed ili?.ken with the wind ?
Ifa. vi. 13, But yet in it fliall be a tenth, and it fhall return,
and fhall he eaten : a* a teil tree, and as an oak whofe fubftance ii
Sect. IX. THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 197
The facred page my ftate defcribes
From volatile and reptile tribes ;
From ugly vipers, r beauteous birds \f
From foaring hofis, s and fwinifh herds, t
I'm rank'd with beads of different kinds,
With fpiteful tygers, u loving hinds ; v
And creatures of diftinguifh'd forms,
Wkh mounting eagles, <w creeping worms, x
A mixture of each fort I am j
A hurtful fnake,j; aharmlefs lamb ; z
in them when they cafi their leaves ; fo the holy feedfhall be the
fubftanee thereof.
■p Ifa. lviii. 5, Is it fuch_a faft that I have chofen ?. a day for a
man to aiRi-il his foul ? is it to bow down his head as a bulrufh,
and to fpread fackcloth and allies under him ? wilt thou call this
a fa ft, and an acceptable day to the Lord ?
q Pfalm Ixxiii. 22, So fooliih was I (Afaph,) and ignorant ; I was
a beaft before thee. Prov. xxx. 2, Surely I (Agur) am more bru-
tiili than any man, and have not the underftanding of a man.
r Matth. iii. 7, But when John faw many of the Pharifees and
Sadducees come to his baptifm, he laid unto ..them, O generation.
of vipers, <Scc.
/Song ii. 12, The time o-Lthe iinging of birds is come, and the
voice of the turtle is heard in our land.
s Ifa. lx. 8, Who are thefe that, fly as a cloud, and as the doves
to their windows ?
t Matth. vii. 6, Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, nei-
ther caft ye your pearls before fwine, left they trample them un-
der their feet, and turn again and rent you. 2 Pet. ii. 22, But it
is happened to them according to the true proverb. The dog is
turned to his own vomit again,: and the fow that was wafhed, to
her wallowing in the mire.
u Pfalm xxii. 16, For dogs have compafTed me, the afTembly of
the wicked have inclofed me: they pierced my hands and my
feet. Phil. iii. 2, Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, bcwara
of the concifion.
v. Pfalm xviii. 33, God maketh my feet like hinds feet, and fet-
teth me upon my high places. Prov. v. 19, Let her (the wife. of
my youth) be as the loving hind, and pleafant roe ; let her breads
fatisfy thee at all times, and be thou ravilhed always with her love.
nxj Ifa. xl. 31 — They fhall mount up with wings as eagles.
x Pfalm xxii. 6, But I am a worm, and no man. Ifa. xli. 14,
Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Ifrael, &c.
y Pfalm lviii. 4, Their poifon is like the poifon of a ferpent ;
they are like the deaf adder, that ftoppeth her ear.
R 2
198 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part ILL
A tardy afsi a a fpeedy roe ; b
A lion hold,c a tim'rous doe. d
A fiothful owl, e a bufy ant ;/
A dove to mourn, g a lark to chant : h
And with lefs equals to compare,
An ugly toad, i an angel fair, k
SECT. X. The myjlery of the Saints 9 old and new man
further defer ibed ; and the means of their fpiriiual life*
Temptations breed me much annoy, a
Yet divers fivch I count all joy. b
z John xxi. 15, So when they had dined, Jefus faith to Simon
Peter, Simon fori of Jonas, lovelt thou me more than thefe ? He
faith unto him, Yea, Lord : thou knoweft that I love thee. He
faith unto him, Feed my lambs.
a Job xi. 12, Vain man would be wife, though man be born like
a wild afs'i colt.
b Prov. vi. 5, Deliver thyfelf, (my fon) as a roe from the hand
of the hunter.
c Prov. xxviii. I, The righteous are bold as a lion.
d Ifa. ii. 19, And they fhall go into the holes of the rocks, and
into the caves of the earth, for fear of the Lord, and for the glo-
ry of his Majefty, when he arifeth to fhake terribly the earth.
e Pfalm cii. 6, I am like an owl of the defert. .
f Prov. vi. 6, Go to the ant, thou iluggard, eoniider her way3
and be wife, &c.
g Ifa. xxxviii. 14, Like a crane or a f wallow, fo did I chatter ; I
did mourn as a dove, mine eyes fail with looking upward ; O
Lord, 1 am oppreffed, undertake for me. Ezek. vii. 16, But they
that efcape of them (Ifrael,) fhall efcape, and fliall be on the
mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning, every
one for his iniquity.
h Song ii. 12, The time of the hnging of birds is come, and th?
voice of the turtle is heard in our land.
i Rom. ill. 13 — The poifon of afps is under their lips. Job xl.
4, Behold, I am vile, what fhall I anfwer thee ! I will lay mine
hand upon my mouth.
k A6ts vi. 15, And all that fat in the council, looking itedfaftly
on him (Stephen,) faw his face as if it had been the face of an an-
gel. 2 Cor. iii. 18, But we all with open face, beholding as in a
glafs the glory of the Lord, are changed into the fame image,
from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
a Heb. xii. 11, Now no chaftening for the prefent fecmeth to
be joyous, but grievous, &c. 1 Pet. i. 6, Wherein ye greatly re-
Sect. X. THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE, 199
On earth I fee confufions reel, c
Yet wifdom ord'ring all things #eu. d
I fleep, yet have a waking ear ; e
I'm blind and deaf yet fee and hear,y
Dumb, yet, cry, Abba, Father*plain, g
Born only once, yet born again, h %
My heart's a mirror dim and bright, I
A compound flrange of day and night, h
]oice, though now for a feafon, (if need be) ye are in heaviness
through manifold temptations.
b James i. 2, My brethren, ccunc it all joy when ye fall into
divers temptations.
c Pfalm lxxxii. 5, They know not, neither will they underfland ;
they walk on in darknefs : all the foundations of the earth are
out of courfe.
d Pfalm xxix. 10, The Lord litteth upon the flood : yea, the
Lord litteth King for ever. And lxxxix. 9, Thou ruleft the rag-
ing of the fea ; when the waves thereof arife, thou itilleft them.
Rom. viii. 28, And we know that all things Work together for
good, to them that love God, to them who are the called accord-
ing to his purpofe.
e Song v. 2, I fleep, but my heart waketh ; it is the voice of
my Beloved that knocketh, faying, Open to me my lifter, my love a
ray dove, my undented : for my head is filled with dew, and my
locks with the drops of night.
/Ifa. xlii. 18, 19, Hear, ye deaf, and look ye blind, that ye may
fee. Who is blind, but my fervant ? or deaf, as my mefTenger that
I fent ? whu is blind, as he that is perfect, and blind as the Lord's
fervant ? And sxxv, 5, Then the eyes of the blind fhall be open-
ed, and the ears of the deaf fliall be unftopped.
g Ifa. xxxv. 6, Then fliall— the tongue of the dumb iing; for
in the wildernefs fhaii waters breakout, and {breams in the defert.
Rom. viii. 15, For ye have rot received the fpirit of bondage
again to fear ; but ye have received the fpirit of adoption, where-
by we cry, Ahba, Father.
h John iii. 3 — 6, Jefus anfwered and faid unto him, (Nicode-
mus,) Verily, verily, I fay unto thee, Except a man be born again,
he cannot fee the kingdom of God. Nicodemus faith unto him,
How can a man be born when he is old ? can he enter the fecond
time into his mother's womb and be born ? Jefus anfwered, Ver-
ily, verily, I fay unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of
the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God, That which
is born of the flefh, is flefh ; and that which is born of the Spir*
it, is fpirit.
i Lam. v. 17, For this our heart is faint, for thefe things ou
20o GOSPEL SONNETS. Part ILL
Of dung and diamonds, drofs and gold ; /
Of fummer heat, and winter cold, m
Down like a ftone I fink and dive, a
Yet daily upward foar and thrive, o
To heav'n I fly, to earth I tend,^>
Still better grow, yet never mend, q
eyes are dim. Ifa. xxxii. 3, And the eyes of them that fee fliall
notT be dim, &c.
k Zech. xiv. 7, But it fliall be one day which fliall be known to
the Lord, not day, nor night ; but it fliall come to pafs, that at
evening time it fhall be light.
/.Mai. ii. 3, Behold, I will corrupt your feed, and fpread dung
upon your faces, even the dung of your folemn feafts, and one
fliall take you away with it. Phil. iii. 8, Yea, doubtlefs and I
count all things but lofs, for the excellency of the knowledge of
Chrift Jefus my Lord; for whom I have fuffered the lofs of all
things, and do count them but dung that I may win Chrift. Ifa.
lxii. 3, Thou fhalt alfo be a crown of glory in the hand of the
Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God. Ifa. i. 25, And
I will, turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy drofs,
and take away all thy tin. Job xxiii. 10, God kneweth the way
that I take; when he hath tried me, I iliall come forth as gold..
m Pfalm xxxix. 3, My heart was hot within me, while I was
muling the fire burned. Luke xxiv. 32, And they faid one to
another, Did not our hearts burn within us, while he talked with
us by the way, and while he opened to us the fcriptures ? Math,
xxiv. 12, And becaufc iniquity fliall abound, the love of many fliall
wax cold. Rev. ii. 4, Never thelefs, I have.fomewhat againft thee 4
becaufe thou haft left thy firff love.
n Pfalm xlii. 6, 7, O my God, my foul is caft down within me ;
therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of
the H -rmonites, from the hill Mizar. Deep calleth unto deep, at
the noife of thy water fpouts ; all thy waves and thy billows are
gone over me.
o Plalm xlii. 8, 9, Yet the Lord will command his loving kind-
nefs in the day time, and in the night his fong fliall be with me,
and my prayer unto the God of my life. I will fay unto God my
rock, Why haft thou forgotten me ? Why go I mourning becaufe
of the oppreflion of the enemy ? <u. 11, Why art thou cafl down,
O my foul ?" and why art thou difquieted within me ? hope thou
in God, for I will yet praife him, who is the health of my coun-
tenance, and my God.
p Coi. iii. i, 2, If ye then be rifen with Chrift, feek thofe things
which are above, where Chrift litteth on the right hand of God.
Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth.
Pfalm xliv. 25, Our foul is bowed down to the duft ; our belly
eleaveth to the earth.
Sect. X. THE BELIEVER/ s RIDDLE. 201
My heaven and glory *s fure to me,
Though therefore feldom fure I be ; r
Yet what makes me the furer is,
God is my glory,/ I am his, s
My life's expofed to open view, t
Yet clofely hid and known to few. u
Some know my place, and whence I came,
Yet neither whence, nor where I am. v
I
q Hof. xiv. 5, I will be as the dew unto Ifrael, he fliall grow 33
the lily, and caft forth his roots as Lebanon. <v. 7, They that dwell
under his fhadow fliall return, they fhall revive as the corn, and
grow as the vine ; the fcent thereof fliall be as the wine of Leba-
non. Phil. iii. 12, 13, 14, Not as though I had already attained,
either were already perfect : but I follow after, if that I may ap-
prehend that for which alfo I am apprehended of Chrift Jefus.
Brethren, I count not myfelf to have apprehended ; but this one
thing I do, forgetting thofe things which are behind, and reaching
forth unto thofe things which are before, I prefs towards the mark,
for the prize of the high calling of God in Chrift Jefus. Rom. vii.
*3, 24, But I fee another law in my members, warring againfl the
law of my mind and bringing me into captivity to the law of fin.,
which is in my members. O wretched man that I am, who ihail
deliver me from the body of this death ?
r John xiv. 2, 3, In my Father's houfe are many m-anfions; if it
were not fo, I would have told you : I go to prepare a place fo£
\ou. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again,
and receive you unto myfelf, that, where I am, there ye may be
alfo. % Pet. i. 10, Wherefore, the rather brethren, give all diligence
to make your calling and election fare. Heb. iv. 1, Let us there-
fore fear, left a promife being left us of entering into his reft, any
of you fhould feem to come iliort of it.
/ Pfalm iii. 3, But thou, O Lord, art a fhield for me ; my glory,
and the lifter up of mine head. Ifa. Is. 19, The fun fliall be no
more thy light by day, neither for brightnefs fliall the moon give
light unto thee, bat the Lord fliall be unto thee an everlaSing
light, and thy God thy glory.
s Ifa. xlvi. 13,1 will place falvation in Zion for Ifrael mv glory.
2 Cor. viii. 33, Whether do any inquire of Titus, he is my partner
and fellow-helper concerning you ; or our brethren be inquired of,
they are the mefTengers of the churches, and the glory of Chrift.
t Pfaim xilv. 13, Thou makeft us a reproach to cur ireighhours,
a fcorn and a deriiion to them that arc round about us.
u Col. iii. 3, Your life is hid with Chrift in God.
v John iii. 9, 10, Nicoderous anfwertd and ibid unto hitai, How
befe things be ? Jefus anfwered and did unto hixv
202 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III.
I Five in earth, which is not odd y
But lo, I alio live in God : w
A Spirit without flefii and blood,
Yet with them both to yield me food, x
I leave what others live upon,
Yet live I not on bread alone ;
But food adapted to my mind,
Bare words, yet not no empty wind.jy
I'm no anthropophagite rude,
Though fed with human flexh and blood j
But live fuperlatively fine,
My food's all fpirit, all divine, z
I feaft on fulnefs night and day, a
Yet pinch'd for want I pine away, b
a matter of Ifrael, and knowt R not thefc things ? Prov. xlv. io r
The heart knoweth his own bittemefs ; and a ttranger doth not
intermeddle with his joy. a John iv. 16, And we have known and
believed the love that God hath to us. God is love ; and he that
dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, and God in him.
w Gal. ii. 20, I am. crucified with Chrift: Nevertheless I live,
yet not I, but Chrifl liveth in me :. "and the life which I now live
in the flefli, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me,
and gave himfelf for me.
* John iv. 24, God is a Spirit, -md they that worfhip him, muft
worfliip him in Spirit and in truth. And vi. 5$, 54, 35, Then faid
Jefus unto them* (the Jews,) Verily verily, I fay unto you, Except
ye eat the flefli of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no
life in you. Whofo eateth my flefh, and drinketh my blood hath
eternal life, and I will raife him up at the latt day. For my flefli
is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
y Matt. iv. 4, But Jefus anfwered and faid (unto the tempter,)
It is written, Man fhall not live by bread alone, but by every word
that proceedeth out of the mouth. of God. Jer. xv. 16, Thy words
were found, and I did eat them ; and thy word was unto me the.
joy and rejoicing of mine heart, for I am called by thy name, O .
Lord God of hofls.
z John vi. 57, 58, As the living Father hath fent me, and I live
by the Father : fo he that eateth me, even he fhall live by me.
This is that bread which came down from heaven ; not as your fa-
thers did eat manna, and are dead; he that eateth of this bread
fhall live for ever. v. 63, It is the Spirit that quickeneth, the Hefh
profketh nothing; the words that I fpeak unto you, they are fpirit.
and they are life.
Ssct. X; THE BELIEVERS RIDDLE. 203
My leannefs, leannefs, ah F I cry yc
Yet fat and full of fap am L d
As ail amphibious creatures do,
j[ live in land and water too : e
To good and evil equal bent, y
I'm both a devil,^ and a faint, h
While forne men who v on earth are gods 1
e with the God of heaven at odds, k
xxv. 6, And in this mountain {hall the Lord of hods make
unto all people a feaft of fat things, a feaft of wine on the lees, of
fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined. Pfalm
1^2, But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law dotk
lie meditate day and night.
b Ifa. xli. 17, When the poor and needy feek water, and there is
none, and their tongue faileth for third, I the Lord will hear them,
Tthe God of Ifrael will not forfake them. Pfalm xl. 17, But I am
poor and needy, yet the Lord thinketh upon mg ; thou art my help
and my deliverer, make no tarrying, O my God.
c Ifa. xxiv. 16, From the uttermoft parts of the earth have we
"heard fongs, even glory to the righteous : but I faid, My leannefs, my
f leannefs, wo unto me :. the treacherous dealers have dealt treacher-
eufly; yea, the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacheroufly,
d Pfalm xcii. 13, 14, Thofe that be planted in the houfe of the
Lord, fhall flouriili in the courts of our God. They fhall dill
bring forth fruit in old age; they fhall be fat and flourilliing.
And civ. 16, The trees of the Lord are full of lap ; the cedars of
Lebanon which he hath planted.
c Pfalm cxvi. 9, I will walk before the Lord in the land of the
living. And lxix. 1. 3, Save me, O God, for the waters are corns
in unto my foul. I link in deep mire, where there is no danding;
I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. And
Lxxxviii. 17, Thy terrors come round about me daily like water,
thev compafied me about together.
/Rom. vii. 21, I find then a law, that when I would do good
evil is prefent with me.
g John vi. 70, Jefus anfwered them, have not I chofen you
twelve, and one of you is a devil ? And viii. 44, Ye are of your
father the devil, and the luds of your Father ye will do. James
iii. 15, This wifdom defcendeth not from above, but is earthly,
fenfual, devilifh.
b 1 Cor. vi. 11, And fuch were fome of you ; but ye are wafhed,
but ye are fancliiied, but ye are judiiied in the name of the Lord
Jefus, and by the Spirit of our God.
i Pfalm lxxxii. 6, 1 have faid, Ye are gods ; and all of you are
children of the Mod High,
204 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III.
My heart where hellifh legions are /
Is With the hofts of hell at war. m
My will fulfils what's hard to tell,
The counfel both of Heav'n n and hell. #
Heav'n, without fin, wilPd fin to be \p
Yet will to fin, is fin in me. q
h Pudm Izxxii. i, a, God ftandeth in the congregation of the
mighty ; he judgeth among the gods. How long will ye judge un-
juftly, and accept the perfons of the wicked ? Selah. i>. 5, They
know not, neither will they underftand ; they walk on in dark-
nefs ; all the foundations of the earth are out of courfc.
/ Mattfc iv. 19, For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts,
murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, falfe witnefs,blafphemies.
Luke viii. 30, And Jefus afked him, faying, What is thy name ?
and he faid, Legion ; becaufe many devils were entered into him.
m Eph. vi. 12, For we wreflle not againft flefh and blood, but
againft principalities, againft powers, againft the rulers of the
tlarknefs of this wfcrld, againft fpiritual wickednefs in high "places.
n Rev. xvii. 17, For God hath put into their hearts to fulfil his
will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beaft, until
the words of God fhall be fulfilled.
Eph. ii. 3, Among whom alfo we all had our converfation in
times paft, in the lufts of our flefh, and of the mind ; and were by
nature the children of wrath even as others.
p James i. 13, Let no man fay, when he is tempted, I am tempt-
ed of God ; for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth
be any man. Acxs i. 15, 16, And in thofe days Peter flood up in
. the midft of the difciples, and faid, Men and brethren, this fcrip-
tare muft needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghoft, by the
mouth of David, fpake before concerning Judas, which was guide
to them that took Jefus. And ii. 23, Jefus of Nazareth being de-
livered by the determinate counfel and foreknowledge of God, ye
Bave taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and flain. And
iv. 27, 38, For of a truth, againft thy holy child Jefus whom thou
haft anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the (Jgpatiles,
and the people of Ifrael, were gathered together, for, to do what-
soever thy hand and thy counfel determined before to be done.
q Hof. v. 11, Ephraim is opprefled, and broken in judgment,
becaufe he willingly walked after the commandment. % Cor. viii.
I "i, 1 a, Now therefore perform the doing of itj that as there was
a readinefs to will, fo there may be a performance alfo out of that
which you have : For if there be firft a willing mind, it is accept-
ed according to that a man hath, and *iot according xo that he
'hath not. -
Sect. XL THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 205
To duty feldom I adhere, r
Yet to the end I perfevere.y
I die and rot beneath the clod, s
Yet live .and reign as long as God. t
SECT. XL The myftery of Chr'ijl> his names , natures, and
My Lord appears ; awake, my foul,
Admire his name, the Wonderful, a
An infinite and finite mind, b
Eternity and time conjoin'd. c
\ The everlafling Father' ftyl'd,
Yet lately born, the virgin's child, d
r Pfalm exlx. 176, I have gone aftray like a loft flieep, ftek ttyf
fervant ; for I do not forget thy commandments,
/Heb. x. 39, But .we are not of them who draw back unto per-
dition : but of them that believe, to the laving of the foul.
* Pfalm xc. 3, Thou turneil: man to deftruclion, and fay eft, Re-
turn, ye children of men.
* John v. 24, Verily, verily, I fay unto you, He that heareth
ray word, and believeth on him that fent me, hath everlafling life,
and fhall not come into condemnation: but is pafTed from death
unto life. Rev. iii. 21, To him that overcometh will I grant to
iit with me on my throne, even as I alfo overcame, and am fet
down with my Father on his throne. And xxii. 5, And there fhall
be no night there, and they need no candle, neither light of the
fun ; for the Lord giveth them light ; and they iliall reign for ev-
er and ever.
a Ifa. ix. 6, For unto us a child is born, unto us a fon is given,
and the government fhall be upon his ilioulders ; and his name
fhall be called Wonderful.
I Pfalm cxlvii. 5, Great is our Lord, and of great power ; his
\tnderftanding is infinite. Luke ii. 52, And Jefus increafed in wif-
dom and ftature, and in favour with God and man.
c Gal. iv. 4, But when the fulnefs of the time was come, God
fent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law.
d Ifa. ix. 6j For unto us a child is born — : and his name fhall be
called — The everlafling Father. Matth. L 23, Behold, a virgin
fhall be with chira, and iliall -bring forth a Son, and they fliali
call hi* name Emmanuel, which being interpreted, is, God with us,
s
Z 0$ GOSPEL SONNETS. Part ILL
Nor father he, nor mother had,
Yet full with both relations clad, e
His titles differ and accord,
As David's fon, and David's Lord./
Through earth and hell he conqu'ring rode*
The dying man, the rifing God ! g
My nature is corruption doorn'd : h
Yet when my nature he aflum'd,
t Heb. vii. 3, For this TVTelchifedec — without father, without
mother, without defcent, having neither beginning of days, nor
end of life ; but made like unto the Son of God, abideth a pried
continually. Luke ii. 48, 49, And when they faw him, they were
amazed ; and his mother faid unto him, Son, why haft thou fo dealt
with us ? behold, thy Father and I have fought thee forrowing.
And he faid unto them, How is it that ye fought me ? wifl ye not
that I muft be about my Father's bufinefs ?
/Matth. xxii. 41 — 45, While the Pharifees were gathered to-
gether, Jefus afked him, faying, What think ye of Chrift ? whofe
ion is he ? They faid unto him, The fon of David. He faith unto
them, How then doth David in fpirit call him Lord, faying, The
Lord faith unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make
thine enemies my footftoool ? If David then call him Lord, how
is he his fon, &c.
g Matth. xxi. 5, Tell ye the daughters of Zion, Behold, thy
King cometh unto thee, meek;, and fitting upon an afs, and a coU
the foal of an afs. v. 8, 9, And a very great multitude fpread their
garments in the way ; others cut down branches from the trees,
and ftrewed them in the way. And the multitude that went be-
fore and that followed, cried, faying, Hofannah to the fon of Da-
vid : bleffed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord, Hofanna
in the higheft. v. 12, And Jefus went into the temple of God,
and caft out all them that fold and bought in the temple, and
overthrew the tables of the money changers, and the feats of them
that fold doves. Col. ii. 15, And having fpoiled principalities and
powers, he made a {how of them openly, triumphing over them
in it (his crofs.) Rom. iv. 25, Jefus our Lord was delivered for
our offences, and was raifed again for our juftiiication. Eph. iv.
8, Wherefore he (David) faith, When he afcended up on high, he
led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. Rom. i. 4, Jefus
Chrift our Lord, was declared to be the Son of God with power,
according to the fpirit of holinefs by the refurrection from the
4ead.
b Eph. iv. 2.3, Put off, concerning the former converfation, the
©Id man which is corrupt, according to the deceitful lufts.
Sect. XL THE BELIEVERS RIDDLE. so?
He nor on him (to drink the brook) i
My perfon nor corruption took, k
Yet he affurn'd my fin and guilt, /
For which the noble blood was fpliu
Great was the guilt overflowing flood,.
The creature's and Creator's blood ; m
The Chief of chiefs amazing came, n
To bear the glory and the fliame ;
s'Pfalm ex. 7, He fhall drink of the brook in the way; there-
fore fhall he lift up the head.
k Rom. viii. 3, God fent his own Son, in the likenefs of finful
flefh, and for fin condemned fin in the flefh. John i. 14, And the
Word was made flefh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his
glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace
and truth. Luke i. 35, And the angel anfwered and faid unto
Alary, the Holy Ghofl: fhall come upon thee, and the power of
the Higheft fhall overfhadow thee : therefore alfo that holy thing
which fhall be born of thee, fhall be called the Son of God. Heb.
ii. 16, For verily, he took not on him the nature of angels ; but
he took on him the feed of Abraham. And vii. 26, 27, For fuch
an High Priefl became us, who is holy, harmlefs, undefined, fepa-
rate from finners, and made higher than the heavens ; who need-
eth not daily, as thofe high priefts, to offer up facrifice, firft for
his own fins, and then for the people's ; for this he did once, when
he offered up himfelf.
/ Ifa. liii. 5, 6, All we like fheep have gone aftray ; we have
turned every one to his own way, and the Lord hath laid on him
the iniquity of us all. 1 Cor. v. ai, God hath made Chrift to be
fin for us, who knew no fin; that we might be made the right-
eoufnefs of God in him. Matth. xx. s8, The fon of man came to
give his life a ranfom for many.
m Rom. hi. 25, Whom God hath fet forth to be a propitiation,
through faith in his blood, to declare his righteoufnefs for the re-
mifiion of fins that are paft, through the forbearance of God. Ads
xx. a8, Feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with
his own blood. 1 Pet. i. 18, 19, For as much as ye know that ye
were not redeemed with corruptible things, as filver and gold,
from your vain converfation received by tradition from your fa-
thers ; but with the precious blood of Chrift, as of a Lamb with-
out blemifh and without fpot. 1 John iii. 16, Hereby perceive
we the love of God, becaufe he laid down his life for us.
n Rev. i. 4, 5, Grace be unto you, and peace from — Jefus Chrift,
who is the faithful witnefs, and the firft begotten of the dead, and
the prince of the kings of the earth.
9 Zech. vi. is, 13, Behold, the man v.hofe name is the
?o8 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III.
Anointed Chief with oil of joy,/>
Crown'd Chief with thorns of fharp annoy, q
Lo, in his white and ruddy face
Rofes and lilies ilrive for place ; r
The morning ftar, the riling fun
With equal fpeed and fplendor run./
How glorious is the church's head,
The fon of God, the woman's feed ; s
How fearchlefs is his noble clan, /
The firft, the laft:, the fecond man ; u
BRANCH — he fhall build the temple of the Lord, and he fhall
bear the glory. Heb. xii. 2, Jefus, for the joy that was fet before
him, endured the crofs, defpiiing the fhame, &c.
p Pfalm xlv. 7, Thou loveft righteoufnefs, and hateft wicked-
nefs, therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of
gladnefs above thy fellows.
q Matth. xxvii. 29, And when they had platted a crown of
thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand ;
and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, faying,
Hail, King of the Jews.
r Song ii. 1, I am the rofe of Sharon, and the lilly of the val-
leys. And v. 10, My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefeft
among ten thoufand.
y*Rev. xxii. 16, I (Jefus) am the root and the offspring of Da-
vid, and the bright and morning ftar. Mai. iv. 2, But unto you
that fear my name, fhall the Sun of righteoufnefs arife with heal-
ing in his wings ; and ye fhall go forth, and grow up, as calves of
the flail.
s Col. % 18, And Chrift i6 the head of the body, the church;
who is the beginning, the firft born from the dead ; that in all
things he might have the pre-eminence. John iii. 16, God fo lov-
ed the word, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whofoever
believeth in him, fhould not perifh, but have everlafting life.
Gen. iii. 15, And I (the Lord God) will put enmity between thee
and the woman, and between thy feed and her feed ; it fhall
bruife thy head, and thou fhalt bruife his heel.
t Ifa. liii. 8, He was taken from prifon and from judgment ; and
who fhall declare his generation ? Prov. xxx. 4, Who hath afcend-
ed up into heaven, or defcended ? who hath gathered the wind in
his fifts ? Who hath bound the waters in a garment ? who hath
eftabiifhed all the eiuls of the earth ? what is his name, and what
is his Son's name, if thou canft teil ?
n Rev. i. 11, I am Alpha and Omega, the firft and the laft. 1
Cor. xv, 45, The hft Adam was made a quickening fpirit. v. 47,
The fecond map is the Lord from heaven,
Sect. XI. THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 20*
With equal brightnefs in his face,
Shines divine juftice, divine grace ; v
The jarring glories kindly meet,
Stern vengeance and compaffion fweet. w
God is a Spirit, feems it odd.
To fing aloud the blood of God. x
Yea, hence my peace and joy refult,
And here my lafting hope is built, y
Love through his blood a vent has fought*
Yet divine love was never bought :
Mercy could never purchas'd be,
Yet ev'ry mercy purchas'd lie. %
"j 1 Cor. iv. 6, For God who commanded the light to fliine out
of darknefs, hath fhined in our hearts, to give the light of the
knowledge of the glorv of God, in the face of Jefus Chrift. Rom.
in. 24, 25, 26, Being juftiiied freely by his grace, through the re-
demption that is in Jefus Chrift : whom God hath fet forth to be
a propitiation, through faith in his blood, to declare his rightcouf-
nefs for the remilHon of fins that are part, through the forbearance
of God ; to declare I fay at this time his righteoufnefs ; that he
might be juft, and the juftifier of him which believeth in jefus.
Eph. i. 6, 7, To the praife of the glory of his grace, wherein he
hath made us accepted in the beloved : in whom we have re-
demption through his blood, the forgivenefs of fins according to
the riches of his grace.
iv Rom. v. 20, 2i, Fut where fin abounded, grace did much
more abound : that as fin hath reigned unto death, even fo might
grace reign throuh righteoufnefs unto eternal life, by Jefus Chrift
oar Lord. Pfahn lxxxv. lo, Mercy and truth are met together,
righteoufnefs and peace have kiffed each other.
x John iv. 24, God is a Spirit, and they that worfhip him,muft
worfhip him in fpirit and in truth. Ads xx. 28, Feed the church
of God, which he hath purchafed with his own blood.
y Rom. v.. 1, Therefore, being juftified by faith, we have peace
with God, through our Lord Jefus Chrift. v. 1.0, For if when we
were enemies, we were .reconciled to God by the death of his Son :
much more, being reconciled, we fhall be faved by his life. 1 Pet.
iii. 15, Be ready always to give an anfwer to every man that afk-
eth you a reafon of the hope that is in you, with meeknefs and
fear. v. 18, For Chrift hath alio once fuffered for fins, the juft for
the unjuft, (that he might bring us to God,) being put to death in,
the flefli, but quickened by the Spirit.
% Rom. v. 9, Much more then being now juftified by his blood,
we fhall be faved from wrath through him. v» si, See letter iv>.
S 2.
sio GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III.
His triple ftation broke my peace,
The Altar, Prieft, and facrifice 5 a
, His triple office ev'ry thing,
My Prieft my Prophet is, and King, b
This King, who only man became,
Is both the Lion and the Lamb : c
A King of kings and kingdoms broad ; d
A fervant both to man and God. e
John iii. 16, God fo loved the world, that he gave his only begot-
ten Son, that wliofoever believeth m him, fhould not perifli, but
have everlafting life. Rom. ix. 15, God faith to Mofcs, I will have
mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have companion on
whom I will have companion. Eph. i. 3, BlefTed be the God and
Father of our Lord Jefus Qhrift, who hath bleffed us with all fpir-
itual bieffings in heavenly places in Chrift.
a Heb. xiii. 10, We have an altar whereof they have no right
to eat, which ferve the tabernacle. And ii. 17, Wherefore in all
things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren ; that he
might be a merciful and faithful high prieft, in things pertaining
to God, to make reconciliation for the fins of the people. And
ix. 26, But now, once in the end of the world, hath Chrift appear-
ed to put away fin by the facrifice of himfelf.
b Acts vii. 37, This is that Mofes which faid unto the children
of Ifrael, A prophet fhall the Lord your God raife up unto you
of your brethren, like unto me ; him fhall ye hear. Ifa. xxxiii.
32, The Lord is our Judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is
our King, he will fave us.
c 1 Tim. iii. 16, And without controverfy, great is the myftery
Of Godlinefs : God was manifeft in the flefh, &c. Rev. v. 5, 6,
And one of the elders faith unto me (John,) Weep not : behold,
the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, hath prevailed
to open the book, and to loofe the feven -feals thereof. And I be-
held, and lo, in the midft of the throne, and of the four beafts,
and in the midft of the elders ftood a Lamb as it had been flain,
.having i^sf^w horns, and feven eyes, which are the feven Spirits
of God fent forth into all the earth. 1/..12, Worthy is the Lamb
that was Hain, to receive power, and riches, and wifdom, and
flrength, and honour, and glory, and bleflmg.
d Rev. xix. 16, And he (the Word of God) hath on his vefture
and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD
OF LORDS. Ifa. xxxvii. 15, 16, And Hezekiah prayed unto the
Lord, faying, O Lord of hofts, God of Ifrael, that dwelleft between
the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the king-
doms of the earth, thou haft made heaven and earth. Rev, %l ifo
Sect. XII. THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE, 2 i t
This Prophet kind himfelf has fet
To be my book and alphabet,
And ev'ry needful letter plain,
Alpha, Omega, and Amtn.f
SECT. XII. The myflery of the Believer's fxed flate fuv~
iher enlarged ; and his getting forth out of evil.
Behold, I'm all defil'd with fin, a
Yet lo, all glorious am within, b
In Egypt and in Goflien dwell ; c
Still movelefs, and in motion ftill. d
And the feventh angel founded, and there were great voices in:
heaven, faying, The kingdoms of this world are become the king-
doms of our Lord and of his Chrift, and he fhall reign for ever
and ever.
c Matth. xv. 28, The Son of man came not to be miniftered un-
to, but to minifler, and to give his life a ranfom for many. Phil,
ii. 7, Chrift Jefus made himfelf of no reputation, and took upon
him the form of a fervanf, and was made in the likenefs of men.
Ifa. xlii. 1, Behold my fervant whom I uphold, mine ele<5t, in
whom my foul delighteth. And liii. n, By his knowledge fliall
my fervant jufHfy many.
/Rev. i 8, I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end-
ing, faith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come,
the Almighty, v n,l am Alpha and Omega, the firft s*?:d th»~
luil ; and, What thou (John) feeft, write in a book, and fend it
unto the feven churches which are in Alia. And xxi. 6, I am Al-
pha and Omega, the beginning and the end : I will give unto him
that is athirft of the fountain of the water of life freely. And
xxii. 13, I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. the
firft and the laft. And iii. 14, And unto the angel of the church
of the Laodiceans, write, Thefe things faith the Amen, the faith-
ful and true witnefs, the beginning of the creation of God, &c.
a Ifa. lxiv. 6, But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our-
righteoufneffes are as filthy ragss
b Pfalm xlv. 13, The King's daughter is all gloious within ; her
clothing is of wrought gold.
c Pfalm cxx. 5, 6, Wo is me that I fojournsujn Mefech, that I
tlwell in the tents of Kedar. My foul hath long dwelt with him-
that hateth peace. And xvi. 5, 6, The Lord is the portion of mine
inheritance, and of my cup ; thou maintained my lot. Tlie lines
212 GOSPEL SONNETS- Part III.
Unto the name that mod 1 dread,
I flee with joyful wings and fpeed. s
My daily hope does moft depend
On him I daily moft offend. jT
All things againft me are combin'd,
Yet working for my good, I find, g
I'm rich in midft of poverties, h
And happy in my miferies. i
Oft my Comforter fends me grief,
My Helper fends me no relief/'
are fallen tome in pleafant places : yea, I have a goodly heritage.
d i Cor. xv. 58, Therefore, my beloved brethren, be yeftedfaft,
immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, foraf-
much as you know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
e Pfaim cxliii. 2, O Lord, enter not into judgment with thy Ser-
vant: for in thy fight fhall no man living be juftifled. *v, 9, De-
liver me, O Lord, from mine enemies : I flee unto thee to hide me.
f Pfalm xxv. 11, For thy name's fake, O Lord, pardon mine in-
iquity ; for it is great. Jer. xiv. 7, O Lord, though our iniquities
tefti.fy againft us, do thou it for thy name's fake ; for our back-
Hidings are many, we have finned againft thee.
g Gen. xlii. 36, And Jacob their father faid unto them, Me have
ye bereaved of my children : Jofeph is not, and Simeon is not, and
ye will take Benjamin away : all thefe tilings are againft me.
Rom. viii. a8, And we know that all things work together for
good to them that love God, to them who are the called accord-
ing to Jjs purpofe.
b Rev. ii. 8, 9, And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna,
write, Thcfe things faith the iirft and the laft, which was dead, and
is alive; I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but
thou art rich.)
i Rom. v. 3, 4, 5, And not only fo, but we glory in tribulations
alfo, knowing, that tribulation worketh patience ; and patience,
experience ; and experience, hope ; and hope maketh not afliam-
ed, becaufe the love of God is- fried abroad in our hearts, by ths
Holy Ghoft which is given unto us. 2 Cor. xii. 10, Therefore I
(Paul) take pleafwre in infirmities, in reproaches, in neceflities, in
persecutions, in diftreftes for Chrift's fake ; for when I am weak,
then am I ftrong.
k Lam. i. 16, For thefe things I weep, mine eye, mine eye run-
neth down with water, becaufe the comforter, that fhould. relieve
my foul, is far from me. Ifa. xlv. 15, Verily thou art a God that
kideft thyfelf, O God of Ifrael the Saviour.
Sect. XII. THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 213
Yet herein my advantage lies,
The help and comfort he denies,/
As feamfters into pieces cut
The cloth they into form would put,
He cuts me down to make me up,
And empties me to fill my cup. m
I never can myfelf enjoy,
Till he my woful felf deftroy ;
And moft of all myfelf I am,
When moft I do myfelf difclaim. n
I glory in infirmities,
Yet daily am afham'd of thefe ;p
I Ifa. xxx. 18, And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be
gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may
have mercy upon you ; for the Lord is a God of judgment ; bleff-
ed are all they that wait for him.
m Hof. v. 15, I will go and return to my place, till they acknow-
ledge their offence, and, feek my face ; in their affliction they will
feek me early. And vi. I, 2, Come. and let us return unto the Lord ;
for he hath torn, and he will heal us : he hath fmitten, and he will
bind us up. After two days he will revive us, in the third day he
will raife us up, and we fhall live in his fight. Pfalm cvii. 9, God
fatisfieth the longing foul, and filleth the hungry foul with good-
nefs. Luke i. 53, And Mary faid, He hath filled the hungry with
good things^ and the rich he hath fent empty away.
n Luke ix. 23, 24, And Jefus faid to them, If any man will come
after me, let him deny himfelf, and take up his crofs daily and
follow me. For whofoever will fave his life, {hall lbfe it : but
whofoever will lofe his life for my fake, the fame fhall fave it.
Romans viii. 13, If ye live after the flefh, ye fhall die ; but if ye
through the fpirit, do mortify the deeds of the body, ye fhall live.
2 Cor. xii. 10, See letter u
2 Cor. xii. 9, Moft gladly therefore wili I rather glory in my
infirmities, that the power of Chrift may reft upon me.
p Pfalm lxxiii. 15, 16, If I fay, I will fpeak thus; behold, I
fhould offend againft the generation of thy children. When I
thought to know this, it was too painful for me. And lxxvii. 8,
9, 10, Is his mercy clean gone for ever ? doth his promife fail for
evermore ; hath God forgotten to be gracious ; hath he in anger
(hut up his tender mercies ? Selah. And I laid, This is my infir-
mity ; but I will remember the years of the right hand- of the
Moft High.
2i 4 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III,
Yea, all my pride gives up the ghoft,
When once I but begin to boaft. q
My chemiftry is moft exaft,
Heaven out of hell I do extract : r
This art to me a tribute brings
Of ufeful out of hurtful things, f
I learn to draw well out of woe,
And thus to diiappoint the foe ; s
The thorns that in my flefh abide,
Do prick the tympany of pride, t
By wounding foils the field I win.
And fin itfelf deftroys my fin : u
f Ifa.xlv. 24, 25, Surely, fhall one fay, in the Lord have I righ-
teoufnefs and ftrength : even to him fhall men come, and all that
are incenfed againft him, fhall be afhamed. In the Lord fhall all
the feed of Ifrael be justified, and fhall glory. Pfalm xliv. 6, I will
not trult in my bow, neither fhall my fword fave me, w. 8, In
God we boaft all the day long; and praife thy name for ever.
Selah.
r Jonah ii. 1, a. Then Jonah prayed' unto the Lord his God out
©f the fifh's belly, and faid, I cried, by reafon of mine affliction
unto the Lord, and he heard me ; out of the belly of hell cried I,
and thou heardft my voice. <v. 3, Then I faid, I am call out of thy
fight ; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple. Matth. xv.
26, 27, 28, But Jefus anfwered and faid [unto the woman of Ca-
naan,] It is not meet to take the children's bread, and call it to
dogs. And fhe faid, Truth, Lord ; yet the dogs eat of the crumbs
which fall from their mailer's table. Then Jefus anfwered and faid
unto her, O woman, great is thy faith : be it unto thee even as thou
wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.
Pfalm xlii. 6, 7, 8, O my God, my foul is caft down within me :
therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of
the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar. Deep calleth unto deep, at
the noife of thy water fpouts ; all thy waves and thy billows are
gone over me. Yet the Lord will command his loving kindnefs in
the day-time, and in the night his fong fhall be with me ; and my
prayer unto the God of my life.
► /Rom. v. 3, 4, 5, See letter /.
s Mic. vii. 4, Rejoice not againft me, O mine enemy; when I
fall, I fhall arife ; when I fit in darknefs, the Lord fhall be a light
unto me.
t 2 Cor. xii. 7, And led I fhould be exalted above mcafure,
through the abundance of the revelations, there was given t©
Sect. XII. THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 215
My lufts break one another's pate,
And each corruption kills its mate, v
I fmell the bait I feel the harm
Of corrupt ways and take th' alarm.
I tafte the bitternefs of fin.
And then to relifh grace begin, w
me a thorn in the flefh, the mefTenger of Satan to buiTet me, leil I
ihould be exalted above meafure.
u Rom. viii. $$> 37, Who fhaH feparate us us from the love of
Chrift ? fhall tribulation, or diftrefs, or perfecution, or famine, or
nakednefs, or peril, or fvvord ? Nay, in all thefe things we are more
than conquerors, through him that loved us. Pfalm lxv. 3, Ini-
quities prevail againft me ; as for our tranfgrefiions, thou fhalt
purge them away. 2 Chron. xxxii. 24, 25, 26, In thofe days He-
zekiak was fick to death, and prayed unto the Lord; and he fpake
unto him, and he have him a fign. But Hezekiah rendered not
again, according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was
lifted up : therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah
and Jerufalem. Notwithftanding, Hezekiah humbled himfelf for
the pride of his heart, (both he and the inhabitants of Jerufalem,)
fo that the wrath of the Lord came not upon them in the days of
Hezekiah.
i> Rom. vii. 7, 8, 9, What {hall we fay then ? Is the law fin ?
God forbid. Nay, I had not known fin but by the law : for I had
not known lult, except the law had faid, Thou fhalt not covet.
But fin taking occafion by the commandment, wrought in me all
manner of concupifcence. For without the law, fin was dead. For
I was alive without the law once; but when the commandment
came fin revived, and I died, <v, n, For fin, taking occafion by
the commandment, deceived me, and by it flew me. v. 13, Was
then that which is good made death unto me ? God forbid. But
fin that it might appear fin, working death in me by that which
is good ; that fin by the commandment might become exceeding
finful. Where you fee the ftght and feeling of fin^ killed felf. John
ix. 39, 40, 41, And Jefus faid, For judgment I am come into this
world ; that they which fee not, might fee ; and that they which
fee, might be made blind. And fome of the Phariiees which were
with him, heard thefe words, and faid unto him, Are we blind
alfo ? Jefus faid unto them, If ye were blind ye ihould have no
fin : but now ye fay, We fee ; therefore your fin remaineth.
Pfalm lix. 11, Siay them not, left: my people forget ? fcatter them
by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord, our fhield. Matt,
xxvi. 33, 34, Peter anfwered and faid unto him, Though all men
fliall be offended becaufe of thee, yet will I never be offended. Je-
fus faid unto him, Verily I fay unto thee, that this night before the
«ock crow, thou fhalt deny me thrice, v. 75, And Peter remeav
2i6 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III.
I hear the fools profanely talk,
Thence wifdom learn in word and walk : x
I fee them throng the paffage broad.
And learn to take the narrow road.jr
SECT. XIII. The tnyjlery of the Saints' advcrfaries and
adverfities*
A lump of woe affliction is;
Yet thence 1 borrow lumps of blifs : a
Tiered the words of Jefus which he faid unto him, Before the cock
crow, thou fhalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept
bitterly.
iv Rom. vi. 2i, What fruit had ye then in thofe things, where-
of ye are now af named ? for the end of thcxfe things is death.
Pfalm. xix. n. Moreover, by them (the judgments of the Lord)
is thy fervant warned : and in keeping of them there is great re-
ward. And lxxiii 17, 18, 19, Until I went intp the fandtuary of
God ; then understood 1 their end. Surely thou didfl fet them in
ilippery places ; thou called fl: them down intodeflruction. How
are they brought into defolation as in a moment ; they are utter-
ly confumed with terrors. Jer. ii. 19, Thine own wickednefs ilia 11
correct thee, and thy backflidings fliall reprove thee ; know there-
fore and fee, that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou haft for-
saken the Lord thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, faith the
Lord God of hofls.
x Job xxi. 13, 14, 15, They fpend their days in wealth, ami in
a moment go down to the grave. Therefore they fay unto God,
Depart from us ; for we delire not the knowledge of thy v/ays.
What is the Almighty, that wefhonld fervehim ? and what prof-
it fhould we have if we pray unto him ? Eph. iv. 20, 21, 22, But
ye have not fo learned Chrifl ; if fo be that ye have heard him,
and been taught by him, as the truth is in Jefus ; that ye put off,
concerning the former converfation, the old man, which is cor-
rupt, according to the deceitful iufts. And v. 6, 7, 8, Let no man
deceive you with vain words ; for becaufe of thefe things comcth
the wrath of God upon the children of difobedience. Be not ye
therefore partakers with them. For ye were fometimes darknefs,
but now are ye light in the Lord ; walk as children of light. *v.
11, And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of d*rknefs,
but rather reprove them.
y Matth. vii. 13, 14, Enter ye in at the flrait gate ; for wide is
the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to deflru&ion, and
many there be which go in thereat ; becaufe flrait is the gate, and
narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that
Snd iu
Sect. XIII. THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 217
Though few can fee a bleilins; in't,
It is my furnace and my mint, b K
Its fharpnefs- does my lufts difpatch ; c
Its iiiddennefs alarms my watch, d
Its bitternefs refines my tafte,
And weans me from the creature's breaft. e
Its weightinefs does try my back,
That faidi and patience be not flack, f
It is a fanning wind whereby
I am unchaff 9 d of vanity, g
A furnace to refine my grace, h
A wing to lift my foul apace ; i
Hence ftill the more I fob diftreft,
The more I fmg.my endlefs reft, k
a Ileb. xii. 11, Now no chaftenidg for the prefent feemeth to be
joyous^ but grievous ; neverthetefs, afterward It yieldeth the peace-
able fruit of right coin nefs, unto them which are exercifed there-
by. James i. 12, BleiTed is the man that endureth temptation:
for when he is tried he fhali receive the crown of life, which the
Lord hath promifed to them that love him.
h Ifa. xxxi. 9, And he (the AfTyrian') fhali pafs over to his ilrong
hold for fear, and his princes fhali be afraid of the enlign, faith
the Lord, whofe fire is in Zion, and his furnace in Jerufalem.
c Pfahn xlv. 5, Thine arrows are iharp in the heart of the king's
•enemies ; whereby the people fall under thee.
d Mark xiii. 35, 36, 3J, Watch ye therefore, (for ye know not
when the matter of the houfe cometh : at even, or at midnight, or
at the cock crowing, or in the -morning,) left coming fuddenly, he
/ud you deeping. And what I fay unto you, I fay unto all, Watch,
e Jer. ii. 19, See letter iv forecited. And iv. 18, Thy way and
thy doings have procured thefe things unto thee, this is thy wick-
ednefs, becaufe it is bitter, becaufe it reacheth unto thine heart.
f James i. 2, 3, 4, My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall
into divers temptations : knowing this, that the trying of your
faith worketh patience. But let^patience have her perfect; work,
that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
g Ifa. xxva. 8, 9, In meafure when it lliooteth forth, thou wilt
debate with it ; he ftayeth his rough wind in the day of his eafl
wind. By this therefore fhali the iniquity of Jacob be purged,
and this is ail the fruit to take away his fin.
h Mai. iii. 3, And he (the mefTenger of the covenant) fliall fit
as a refiner and purifier of fi Iver; and he fliall purify the fons of
2 1 8 GOSPEL SONNETS- Part III.
Mine enemies that feek my hurt,
Of all their bad defigns come fhort ; /
They ferve me fully to my mind,
With favours which they ne'er defign'd. m
The fury of my foes makes me
Faft to my peaceful refuge flee : n
And ev'ry perfecuting elf
Does make me understand myfelf. o
Their ilanders cannot work my fliame, p
Their vile reproaches raife my name ; q
;Levi, and purge them as gold and filver, that they may offer unto
the Lord an offering in righteoufnefs.
i Pfalm cxliii. 9, Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies : I flee
unto thee to hide me.
k % Cor. iv. 16, 17, For which caufe we faint not, but though
; our outward man periih, yet the inward man is renewed day by
day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, work-
eth for us a far more exceeding, and eternal weight of glory.
/ Pfalm xxxiii. 10, The Lord bringeth the counfel of the hea-
then to nought : he Biaketh the devices of the people of none ef-
*e<a.
m Gen. 1. 20, And Jofeph faid unto his bretbren — As for you,
ye thought evil againfl: me ; but God meant it unto good, to bring
to pafs, as it is this day, to fave much people alive.
n Pfalm lv. 23, But thou, O God, fliall bring them down into
the pit of deftruction ; bloody and deceitful men fliall not live
out half their days ; but I will truft in thee.
My fin, Ifa. xlii. 24, Who gave Jacob for a fpoil, and Ifrael
to the robbers ? did not the Lord, he againfl; whom we have fin-
ned ? for they would not walk in his \\ ays, neither were they obe-
dient unto his law. My duty, 2 Sam. xvi. 11, 12, And David faid
feo Abifhai, and to all his fervants, Behold my fon which came forth
of my bowels, feeketh my life; how much more now may this
Benjamite do it ; let him alone, and let him curfe : for the Lord
hath bidden him. It may be that the Lord will look on mine af-
ilielion, and that the Lord will requite me good for his curfing
this day. Mic. vii. 8, 9, Rejoice not againft me, O mine enemy :
when I fall I fliall arife ; when I fit in darknefs, the Lord fliall be
a light unto me. I will bear the indignation of the Lord,becaufe
I have finned againfl him, until he plead my caufe, and execute
judgment for me : he will bring me forth to the light, and I fhall
behold his righteoufnefs. My fafety, Pfalm ix. 9, 10, The Lord
alfo will be a refuge for the oppreffed, a refuge in times of trouble.
And they that know thy name, will put their truft in thee. v.
Sect. XIII. THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 219
In peace with Heav'n my foul can dwell,
Ev'n when they damn. me down to hell, r
Their fury can't the treaty harm,/
Their paffion does my pity warm ; s
Their madnefs only calms my blood \ t
By doing hurt they do my good, u
They are my fordid flaves I wot ;
My drudges, though they know it not : v
2.6, The Lord is known by the judgment which he executeth r
the wicked is fnared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion*
Selah.
p Pfalm xxvi. 13, 14, For I have heard the (lander of many,
fear was on every fide, while they took counfel together againft
me, they devifed "to take away my life. But I trufted in thee, O
Lord ; I faid, Thou art my God.
q 1 Pet. iv. 14, If ye be reproached for the name of Chrift, hap-
py are ye ; for the Spirit of glory and of God refteth upon you ;
on their part he is evil fpoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
r Numb, xxiii. 7, 8, And Balaam took up his parable and faid,,
Ealak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the
mountains of the eaft, faying, Come, curfe me Jacob, and come
defy Ifrael. How (hall I curfe whom God hath not curfed ? or
how fhall I defy, whom the Lord hath not defied ? i>, -23, Surely*
there is no inchantment againft Jacob, neither is there any divi-
nation againft Ifrael : according to this time it fliall be faid of Ja-
cob, and of Ifrael, What hath God wrought ?
/Prov. xxvi. 2, As the bird by wandering, as the fwallow by
flying, fo the curfe caufelefs fhali not come*
s 1 Pet. iii. 8, 9, Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compaf-
fion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous ;
not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing ; but contrariwife,
bleffing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye fhould in-
herit a bleffing.
t Pfalm Ixix. 12, 13, They that fit in the gate fpeak againft me :
and I was the fong of the drunkards. But as for me, my prayer
is unto thee, O Lord, in an acceptable time : 6 God, in the mul-
titude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy falvation.
u Gen. 1. 20, See letter m forecited. Efther ix. 20 — -25, And
Mordecai wrote thefe things, and fent letters unto all the Jews
that were m all the provinces of the king Ahafuerus, both nigh
and far, to (tabiiih this among them, that they fhouki keep the
fourteenth day of the month Adar, i\nd the fifteenth day of the
lame yearly ; as the days wherein the Jews rdlc-.l from their ene--
220 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III.
They act to me a kindly part,
With little £indtie£a hi their heart, w
They fweep my outer houfe when foul,
Yea, wafh my inner filth of foul : x
mies, and the month which was turned unto them from forrow to
joy, and from mourning into a good day ; that they fhould make
them days of feafling and joy, and of fending portions one to
another, and gifts to the poor. And the Jews undertook to do as
they had begun, and as Mordecai had written unto them. Be-
cause Haman the fon of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of
all the jews, had devifed againft the Jews to deftroy them, 3nd
had can: Pur, (that is the lot) to confume them, and to deftroy
them ; but when Either came before the king, he commanded by
letters, that his wicked device which he devifed againft the Jews,
fhould return upon his own head, and that he and his fons fhould
be hanged on the gallows.
v jer. xxv. 8, 9, Therefore thus faith the Lord of hofls, Becaufe
ye have not heard my words, behold I will fend and take all the
families of the north, faith the Lord, and Nebuchadnezzar the
king of Babylon, my fervant, and will bring them againft this land,
•uid againft the inhabitants thereof, and againft all thefe nations
round about, and will utterly deftroy them, and make them an af-
tonifhment, and an hilling, and perpetual defolations. v. ia, And
it fhall come to pafs, when feventy years are accomplished, that I
v. ill punifli the king of Babylon and that nation, faith the Lord,
for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make
it perpetual defolations. Ifa. x. 5, 6, O Aflyrian, the rod of mine
anger, and the ftafFin their hand is mine indignation. I will fend
him againft an hypocritical nation ; and againft the people of my
wrath will I give him a charge to take the fpoil, and to take the
prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the (beets. i>. ia,
"Wherefore it fhall come to pafs, that when the Lord hath per-
formed his whole work upon mount Zion, and on Jerufalem, I
will puniih the fruit of the ftout heart of the king of Aflyria, and
the glory of his high looks. And xliv. 24, a8, Thus faith the Lord
thy Redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the
Lord — that faith of Cyrus, he is my fhepherd, and ihall perform
all my pleai'ure, even faying to Jerufalem, Thou fhalt be built ;
and to the temple, Thy foundations fhall be laid. And xlv. 1,
Thus faith the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whofe right hand
I have holden, to fubdue nations before him ; and I will loofe the
loins of ki&gs to open before him the two leaved gates, and the
g;ites fhall not be fhut. «z/. 4. For Jacob my fervant's fake, and
Ifrael mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name ; I have
finiamcd thee, though thou haft not known me.
w Matth. v, 10, n ? 13, Blefted are they which are perfecuted
Sect. XIV. THE BELIEVERS RIDDLE. 221
They help to purge away my blot,
For Moab is my waihing pot. y
SECT. XIV. The mvflery of the Believer's pardon and
fecurliy from revenging wrath, nottvithfianding his fins
de/erL
I though from condemnation free,
Find fitch condemnables in me,
As make more heavy wrath my due
Than falls on all the damned crew, a
But though my crimes deferve the pit,
I'm no more liable to it :
RemiiUon feal'd with blood and death,.
Secures me from deferved wrath, b
for righteoitfnefs fake ; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Elef-
fed are ye when men {hall revile you, and perfeeute you, and fhall
fay all manner of evil againft you falfeiy for mv fake. Rejoice,
and be exceeding glad : for great is your reward in heaven ; for
fo perfecuted they the prophets which v?ere before you. Luke
vi. 22, 23, Bleffed are ye when men fliall hate you, and when they
fliall feparate you from their company, and mall reproach vou,
and call out your name as evil, for the Son of man's fake. Re-
joice ye in that day, and leap for joy ; for behold your reward is
great in heaven ; for in the like manner did their fathers unta
the prophets.
x Ifa. iv. 3, 4, 5, And it fliall come to pafs, that he that is left / -
in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerufalem. fliall be called holv,
even every one that is written among the living in Jerufalem ;
when the Lord fiiali have warned away the fiith-of the daughters
of Zion, and fliall have purged the blood of Jerufalem from the
midfl: thereof, by the fpirit.of judgment, and by the fpirit of burn-
ing. And the Lord will create upon every dwelling place of
mount Zion, 'and upon her affemblies a cloud, and fmoke by day,
and the fhining of a flaming fire by night ; for upon all the glory
fliall be a defence. And xxvii. 9, By this therefore fliall the ini-
quity of Jacob be purged, and this is all the fruit to take awav his
fin ; when he maketh all the ftones- of the altar as chalk f rones that
are beaten in funder, the groves and images fliall not fland up.
y Pfalm Ixviii. 8, Moab is my wafh pot, &c.
a Pvom. viii. 8, There is therefore no condemnation to them
which are in Chrift Jefus, who walk not after the nefh, but after
T z
m GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III.
And having now a pardon free,
To hell obnoxious cannot be,
Nor to a threat, except * anent ■ * about,
Paternal wrath and chaftifement. c
My foul may oft be filPd indeed
With flavifh fear and hellifh dread, d
This from my unbelief does fpring, e
My Faith fpeaks out fome better thing.
Faith fees no legal guilt again,
Though fin and its defert remain if
Some hidden wonders hence refult :
I'm full of fin, yet free of guilt, g
the Spirit. And vii. 18, For I know that in me, (that Is, in my
flefh) dwelleth no good thing ; for to will is prefent with me, but
how to perform that which is good, I find not. 1 Tim. i. 15, 16,
This is a faithful faying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Chrift
Jefus came into the world to fave finners ; of whom I am the chief.
Kowbeit, for this caufe I obtained mercy, that in me firft, Jefus
Chrift might fhew forth all long fuffering, for a pattern to them
which fliould hereafter believe on him to life everlafring.
b Gal. iii. 13, Chrift hath redeemed us from the curfe of the law,
being made a curfe for us ; for it is written, Curfed is every one
that hangeth on a tree. Rom. v. 9, Much more then being now
jufdfied by his blood, we lhall be faved from wrath through him.
Eph. i. 7, In whom we have redemption through his blood, the
forgivenefs of lins, according to the riches of his grace.
c 1 ThelT. i. 10, And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom
he raifed from the dead, even Jefus which delivered us from the
w r rath to come. Ifa. liv.. 9, 10, For this is as the waters of Noah
unto me ; for as I. have fworn that the waters of Noah fliould no
3 rare go over the earth ; fo have I fworn that I would net be
vrroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. For the mountains fhall dc-
part, and the hills be removed ; but my kindnefs iliall not depart
from thee, neither lhall the covenant of my peace be removed,
faith the Lord, that hath mercy on thee. Pfalm lxxxix. 30 — ^^
If his children forfake my law, and walk not in my judgments ; if
they break my flatutes, and keep not my commandments ; then,
will I viht their tranfgrefiion with the rod, and their iniquity with
flripes. Neverthdefs my loving kindnefs will I not utterly take
from him, nor fufFer my faithfulnefs to fail.
d Matth. xiv. 26, And when the difciples faw Jefus walking on
the fea, they were troubled, faying, It is a fpirit 5 and they cried
out for fear.
Sect. XIV. THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 223,
Guilt is the legal bond or knot,
That binds to wrath and vengeance hot ; h
But fin may be where guilt's away,
And guilt where fin can never ftayv
Guilt without any fm has been,
As in my furety may be feen ;
The elecVs guilt upon him came.
Yet ftill he was the holy Lamb, i
Sin without guilt may llkewife be 5
As may appear in pardon'd me :
For though my fin, alas ! does fla)>.
Yet pardon takes the guilt away : k
Thus free I am, yet ftill involv'd ;
A guilty finner yet abfolv'd ■:./
Though pardon leave no guilt behind.
Yet fin's defert remains I find, m
~e Mark iv. 40, And Jefus faid unto his difciples, Why arc yefo-
fearful ? how is it that you have no faith ?
f Rom. vit 6, But now we are delivered from the law, that be*
ing dead wherein we were held ; that we fhould ferve in newnefs
of fpirit, and not in the oldne.fs of the letter. Chap. viii. 3, 4,
For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the
flefli, God fending his own Son in the likenefs of finful flefh, and.
for fin, condemned fin in the flefh : that the righteoufnefs of the
law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flefh, but af-
ter the Spirit.
g Rom. iv. 14, For we know that the law is fpiritual : but I
am carnal, fold under fin. Chap. viii. 33, 34, Who fliall lay any
thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that juflifieth, who
h he that condemneth ? It is Ghrift that died, yea, rather, that is-
rifen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who alfo mak-
eth interceihon for us.
h Deut. xxvii. 26, Curfed be he that confirmeth not all the
words of the law to do them :-and all the people fliall fay, Amen.
Rom. i. 18, For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven againft
all ungodlinefs, and unrighteoufnefs of men, who hold the truth
in unrighteoufnefs./
i Ifa. liii. 6, The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all,
Heb. vii. 26, For fuch an high prieft- became us, who is holy,
-harmlefs, undefiied, feparate from finners.
k Rom. vii. 24, O wretched man that I am ? who fliall deliver
me from the body of this death ? A<Sts xiii, 38, 39, Be it known
Z2+ GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III.
Guilt and demerit differ here,
Though oft their names confounded are,
I'm guilty in myfelf always,
Since fin's demerit ever frays, n
Yet in my Head Pni ar.v ays free
From proper guilt affecting me ;
Became my Surety's blood canceled
The bond of curies once me held, o
The guilt that pardon'd did divorce,
From legal threat'nings drew its force :p
But fin's defert that lodges ftill,
Is drawn from fin's intrinfic ill. q
unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is
preached unto you the forgivenefs of fins : and by him all that
believe are juftiiied from all things from which ye could not be
juftified by the law of Mofes.
/ Rom. iii. 19, Now we know that what things foever the law
faith, it faith to them who are under the law: that every mouth
may be flopped; and all the world may become guilty before God.
<u. 33, 24, For all have finned, and come fhort of the glory of
God ; being juftified freely by his grace, through the redemption
that is in Jefus Chrift.
m Rom. iv. 6, 7, 8, Even as David alfo defcribeth the bleffed-
nefs of the man unto whom God imputeth righteoufnefs without
works, faying, BlefTed are they whofe iniquities are forgiven, and
whofe fins are covered. BlefTed is the man to whom the Lord will
not impute fin. Pfalm li. 3, 4, For I acknowledge my tranfgref-
lions : and my fin is ever before me. Againfl thee, thee only have
I finned, and done this evil in thy fight : that thou mighteft be
juflified when thou fpeakeft, and be clear when thou judge fh.
And cxliii. 2, O Lord, enter not into judgment with thy fervant ;
for in thy fight can no man living be juftified.
n Rom. vii. 13, 14, Was then that which is good, made death
unto me ? God forbid. But fin, that it might appear fin, work-
ing death in me by that which is good ; that. fin by the command-*
ment might become exceeding finful. For we know that the law
is fpiritual ; but I am carnal, fold under fin. Eph. v. 6, Let no man
deceive you with vain words ; for becaufe of thefe things cometh
the wrath of God upon the children of difobedience.
Rom. v. 1, Therefore being juftified by faith, we have peace
with God, through our Lord Jefus Chrift. <v. 9, Much more then,
being now juftificd by his blood, we fliall be faved from wrath
through him, v. ii 3 And not only fo, but we alfo joy in God„
HI '
Sect. XIV. THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 225
Were guilt nought eife but fm's defert,
Of pardon I'd renounce my part :
For were I now in heaven to dwell,
I'd own my fins deferved hell, r
This does my higheft wonder move
At mat chiefs ju it ifying love,
That thus fecures for en dlefs death
A wretch defervlng double wrath, f
Though well my black defert I know,
Yet I'm not liable to wo ;
through our Lord Jefus Chrift, by whom we have now received
the atonement.
p Gal. iii. 10, For as many as are of the works of the law, are
under the curfe ; for it is written, Curfed is every one that con-
tinueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law
to do them. <v. 13, Chrifl hath redeemed us from the curfe of the
law, being made a curfe for us ; for it is written, Curfed is every
one that hangeth on a tree.
q Pfalm li. 4, See letter m forecited. Luke xv. 18, I will arife
and go to my father, and will fay unto him, Father, I have finned
againft heaven and before thee. N
r Luke xv. 19, — And am no more worthy to be called thy fon.
Rev. v. 4, And I [John] wept much, becaufe no man was found
worthy tto open, and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
v. 9, And they fung a new fong 5 faying, Thou art worthy to take
the book, and to open the feals thereof; for thou waft fiain, and
haft; redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and
tongue, and people, and nation. *u. 11, 1 a, 13, And I beheld, and
I heard the voice of many angels round the throne, and the beafes,
and the elders ; the number of them was ten thoufand times ten
thoufand, and thoufiuids of thoufands ; faying with a loud voice,
Worthy is the Lamb that was flain, to receive power, and riches,
and wifdom, and ftrength, and honour, and glory, and bieihng.
And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and un-
der the earth, and fuch as are in the fea, and all that are in them,
heard I, faying, Blefhng, and honour, and glory, and power be un-
to him that litteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever
and ever.
f Rom. vii. 24, 25, O wretched man that I am ! who fhall de-
liver me from the body of this death ? I thank God, through Jefus
Chrifl our Lord. Chap. viii. 1, There is therefore now no con-
demnation to them which are in Chrift Jefus, who walk not after
the flefh, but after the Spirit, 1 Tim. i. 13, Who wr.s be ft re a
blafphemer, and a perfecutor, and injurious. But I obtained mer-
cy, becaufe I did it ignorantly, in unbelief, v. ij> 16, 17, This i&
226 . GOSFEL SONNETS. Tajit III.
While fall and complete righteoufnefs
Imputed for my freedom is. s
Hence my fecurlty from wrath
As firmly ftands on Jefus death, t
As does my title unto heaven
Upon his great obedience given, u
The fentence Heaven did full pronounce*
Has pardon'd all my fms at once :
And even from future crimes acquit,
Before I could the facts commit, v
a faithful faying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Chrid Jefuff
came into the world to fave fiimers ; of whom I am the chief.
Howbeit, for this caufe I obtained mercy, that in me firft Jefus
Chrift might fhew forth all leng-iuffering, for a. pattern to them
which fhould hereafter believe on him to life everlafHng. Now
unto the King eternal, immortal, invifible, the only wife God, be
honour, and glory, for ever and ever. Air en.
* i Cor. i. 30, But of him are ye in Chrift Jefus, who of God
is made unto us — righteoufnefs — and redemption. 1 Cor. v. 21,
God hath made Chrift to be fin for us, who knew no fin ; that we
might be made the righteoufnefs of God in him. Rom. iv. 11,
And he [Abraham] received the fign of circumciilon, a feal of the
righteoufnefs of the faith, which he had yet being uncircumcifed:
that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they
be not circumcifed ; that righteoufnefs might be imputed unto
them alfo. m 22 — 25, And therefore it was imputed to him for
righteoufnefs. Now it was not written for his fake alone, that it
was imputed to him ; but for us alfo, to whom it fhall be imput-
ed, if we believe on him that raifed up Jefus cur Lord from the
dead, who was delivered for cur offences, and was raifed again for
our juftification,
/ Rom. v. 9, Much more then, being now juftified by his blood,
we fhall be faved from wrath through him.
u Rom. v. 17, 18, 19, — They which receive* abundance of grace*
and of the gift of righteoufnefs, fhall reign in life by one, Jefus
Chrift.— ^By the righteoufnefs of one, the free gift came upon all
men unto juflification of life. — By the obedience of one fhall many
be made righteous. i>. 21, Grace reigns through righteoufnefs
unto eternal life, by Jefus Chrift our Lord.
*o Pfalm ciii. 3, Blefs the Lord, O my foul, — who forgiveth ajl
thine iniquities; who healeth all thy difeafes. 2 Cor. v. 19, God
was in Chrift, reconciling the world unto himfelf, not imputing
their trefpafTes unto them. v. 21, See letter s above cited. Dan.
ix. 24, Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people, and upon
thy holy city, to finiih the tranfgreflion, and to make an end of
Sect. XIV. THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE, 227
Pm always in a pardon' d ft ate
Before and after fin ; w but yet,
That vainly I prefume not hence,
I'm feldom pardon'd to my fenfe. x
Sin brings a vengeance on my head?
Though from avenging wrath I'm freed, y
And though my fins all pardon'd be,
Their pardon's not apply 'd to me. &
Thus though I need no pardon more,
Yet need new pardons every hour,*
fins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring In ever-
lafting righteoufhefs. Ifa. liv. 10, For the mountains fhall depart,
and the hills be removed, but my kindnefs fhall not depart from
thee, neither fhall the covenant of my peace be removed, faith the
Lord, that hath mercy on thee. Heb. viii. 12, For I will be mer-
ciful to their unrighteoufnefs, and their fins and their iniquities
will I remember no more.
iv Rom. viii. 1, There is therefore now no condemnation to them
which are in Chrift Jefus, who walk not after the ftefli, but after
the Spirit, fe 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, Who fhall lay any thing to
the charge of God's elect ? It is God that juftifieth : who is he that
condemneth ? It is Chrifl that died, yea, rather, that is rifen again,
who is even at the right hand of God, who alfo maketh intercef-
iion for us. Who fhall feparate us from the love of Chrilt, fhall
tribulation, or diftrefs, or persecution, or famine, or nakednefs, or
peril, or the fword ? Nay," in all thefe things we are more than
conquerors through him that loved us. For I am perfuaded, that
neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers,
nor things prefent,nor tilings to come, nor heighth, nor depth, nor
any other creature, fhall be able to feparate us from the love of
God which is in Chrilt Jefus our Lord.
x Pfalm xxv. 11, For thy name's fake, O Lord, pardon mine in-
iquity ; for it is great. And li. 8, 9, Make me to hear joy and
gladnefs; that the bones which thou haft broken may rejoice. Hide
thy face from my fins; and blot out all mine iniquities, if. 12,
Reftore unto me the joy of thy falvation ; and uphold me with
thy free fpirit.
y Pfalm xcix. 8, Thou anfweredft them, O Lord our God: thou
waft a God that forgaveft them, though thou tookeft vengeance of
their inventions. 1 TheiT. i. 10, And to wait for his Son from
heaven, whom he raifed from the dead, even Jefus, which deliv-
ered us from the wrath to come.
z Pfalm xxxv. 3, O Lord, fay unto my foul, I am thy falvation*
ad Ixxxv. 8, I will hear what God the Lord will fpeak ; for he
peace unto his people, and to his faints 5 but let them
228 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III.
In point of application free ;
Lord, wafli anew, and pardon me.
SECT. XV. Tie myjlery of Faiti and Sight j of which
more. Part vi. Chap. vi.
Strange contradictions me befal,
I can't believe unlefs I fee ; a
Yet never can believe at all,
Till once I fliut the feeing eye. h
When fight of fweet experience
Can give my faith no helping hand, c
The fight of found intelligence
Will give it ample giound to (land, d
saot turn again to folly. Matth, ix. 2, And behold they brought
to him a man fick of the palfy, lying on a bed : and Jefus feeing
their faith, faid unto the lick of the palfy, Son be of good cheer,
thy lins be forgiven thee.
* Matth. vi. 12, And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our
debtors, i John i. 7, 8, If we walk in the light, as God is in the
light, we have fellowfhip one with another, and the blood of Je-
fus Chrifl his Son eleanfeth us from all fin. Tf we fay, that we
have no fin, we deceive ourfelves, and the truth is not in us.
a John vi. 40, And this is the will of him that fent me, that ev-
ery one which feeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have ev-
crlafting life.
b John xx. 29, Jefas faith unto him, Thomas, becaufe thou haft
feen me, thou hafl believed : blefled are they that have not feen,
and yet have believed.
c Ifa. viii. 17, And I will wait upon the Lord that hideth his
face from the houfe of Jacob, and I will look for him. Chap. 1.
10, Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the
voice of his fervant, that walketh in darknefs, and hath no light I
let them truft in the name of the Lord, and flay upon his Goc
d Eph. i. 15 — 19, Wherefore I aifo, after I heard of your
in the Lord Jefus, and love unto all the faints, ceafe not to
thanks for you, making mention ( of you in my prayers ; that the
God of our Lord Jefus Chrift, the Father of glory, may give unto
you the Spirit of wifdom and revelation, in the knowledge of him ;
the eyes of your underftanding being enlightened ; that ye may
know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the
glory of his inheritance in the faints, and what is the exceeding
greatnefs of his power to us ward who believe, according to the
light f
of *-h,o.
Sect. XV. THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 229
I walk by faith, and not by fight, e
Yet knowledge does my faith refound,y*
Which cannot walk but in the light, g
Ev'n when experience runs aground, h '
By knowledge I difceni and fpy
In divine light the object mown ; i
By faith I take and clofe apply
The glorious object as mine own. k
My faith thus (lands on divine light,
Believing what it clearly fees ; /
Yet faith is oppofite to fight,
Trufting its ear, and nor. its eyes, m
Faith lift'ning to a fweet report,
Still comes by hearing, not by fight 5 n
Yet is not faith of faving fort,
But when it fees in divine ligKLb
o
working of his mighty power, &c. a Cor. iv. 6, For God who-
commanded the light to fhine out of darknefs, hath fhined in our
hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, ia
the face of Jefus Chrift.
e z Cor. v. 7, For we walk by faith, not by fight.
f John ii. ii, This beginning of miracles, did Jefus in Carta- of
Galilee, and manifefied forth his glory; and his difciples believed
on him.
g Pfalm ix. 10, And they that know thy name will put their
truft in thee.
b Pfalm xxxvii. 14, Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and
he fhali ftrengthen thine heart ; wait, I fay, on the Lord.
i % Cor. iii. 18, But we all with open face, beholding as in a
glafs the glory of the Lord, are changed into the fame image, from
glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
k John i. iz, But as many as received him, to them gave he
power to become the fons of God, even to them that believe on
his name.
/ Gal. i. 16, But when it pleafed Gcd — to reveal his Son in me,
that I might preach him among the Heathen ; immediately I con-
ferred not with fleflv and blood.
m Eph. i. 13, In Chrift ye alio trufted after that ye heard the
word of truth, the gofpel of your falvation.
n Rom. x. 17, So then, faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by
the word of God.
Pfalm xxxvi. 7, How excellent is thy loving kindnefs,0 God !
therefore the children of men put their truft under the ihadow
u
2 3 o GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III.
In fears I fpend my vital breath,
In doubts I wafte my paffing years ; p
Yet ftill the life I live is faith,
The oppofite of doubts and fears, q
'Tween clearing faith and clouding fenfe,
I walk in darknefs and in light, r
I'm certain oft, when in fufpenfe,
While fur e by faith and not by fight./
of tliy wings, w. 9, For with thee is the fountain of life ; in thy
light fhall we fee light.
p Pfalm lxxvii. 3, 4, I remembered God, and was troubled : 1
complained, and my fpirit was overwhelmed. Selah. Thou hold-
c{l mine eyes waking ; T am fo troubled that I cannot fpeak. John
xx. 25, But Thomas faid unto the other difciples, Except I fhall
fee in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the
print of the nails, and thruft my hand into his fide, I will not be-
lieve. Luke xxiv. 21, We trufted that it had been he which
fhould have redeemed Ifraei.
a Gal. ii. 20, I am crucified with Chrift : Neverthelefs I live;
yet not I, but Chrift liveth in me : and the life which I now live
in the flefh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me,
and gave himfeif for me. Mark v. 36, As fconas Jefus heard the
word that was fpoken, he faith unto the ruler of the fynagogue,
Be not afraid, only believe. Matth. viii. 26, And Jefus faith unto
his difciples, Why are ye fo fearful, O ye of little faith? Chap,
xiv. 31, And jefus faid unto Peter, O thou of little faith, where-
fore didfl thou doubt ?
r Job xxix. i, 2, 3, Moreover, Job continued his parable, and
faid, Gh that I were as in months part, as in the days when God
preferved me : when his candle iliined upon my head, and when
by his light I walked through darknefs. Pfalm cxii. 4, Unto the
Upright there arifeth light in the darknefs.
./ 1 Pet. i. 8, Whom having not feen, ye love ; in whom though
now ye fee him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unfpeaka-
ble, and full of glory. Rom. iv. 18 — 21, Abraham againfl hope,
believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations ;
according to that which was fpoken, So fhall thy feed be. And be-
ing not weak in faith, he confidered not his own body now dead,
when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadnefs
of Sarah's womb. He daggered not at the promifc of God through
unbelief; but was ftrong in faith, giving glory to God ; and being
fully perfuaded, that what he had promifed, he was able alfo to
perform, Pfalm lxxxix. 36—30, His feed. fhall endure for ever,
and his throne as the fun before me. It fliall be eftablifhed forever
as the moon, and as a faithful witnefs in heaven. Selah. But thou
liafl call off and abhorred, thou hall been wroth with thine an-
THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE, zit
The nv/lery of Fahh and Wcrht and re*
nmrdi of Grot? and E)dt,
I. OF FAITH AND WORKS*
He that in word ofFendeth not,
Is calPd a perfect man I wot ; a
Yet he whofe thoughts and deeds are bad,
The law perfection never had. b
I am defign'd a perfedt foul,
Ev'n though I never kept the whole
Nor any precept ; c for 'tis known
He breaks them all, that breaks but one. d
By faith I do perfection claim, e
By works I never grafp the name if
ointed. Thou haft made void the covenant of thy fervant ; thou
haft profaned his crown, by cafting it to the ground.
a James iii. 2, If any man offend not in word, the fame is a per-
fect man, and able alfo to bridle the whole body.
b James ii. 10, For whofoever fliall keep the whole law, and
yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
c Rom. iv. 5, 6, To him that worketh not, but believeth on him
that juftifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteoufnefs.
Even as David aifo defcribeth the bleffednefs of the man unto
whom God imputeth righteoufnefs without works. Job i. i, There
was a man in the land of Uz, whofe name was Job, and that man
was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and efchewed
evil. Pfalm ixxi. 16, I will go in the ftrength of the Lord God ;
I will make mention of thy righteoufnefs, even of thine only.
Eccl. vii. so, For there is not a juft man upon earth, that doth
good, and linneth not.
d James ii. io, See letter b.
e Phil. iii. 9, I count all things but dung, that I may win Chrift,
and be found in him, not having mine own righteoufnefs, which
is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Chrift, the
righteoufnefs which is of God by faith.
/Gal. ii. 16, Knowing that agnan is not juftified by the works
of the law, but by the faith of Jefus Chrift; even we have be-
lieved in Jefus Chrift ; that we might be juftified by the faith of
Chr.'fc, a^id not by the work* of the law; for by the works of the
law iiiall no flefb be juftified.
232 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III.
Yet without works my faith is nought, g
And thereby no perfection brought.
Works without faith will never fpeed, h
Faith without works is wholly dead : i
Yet I am juftify'd by faith,
Which no law works adjutant hath, h
Yea, Gofpel' works no help can lend, /
Though ftill they do my faith attend : m
g James ii. 14, What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man
fay he hath faith, and have not works ? can faith fave him ?
h Heb. xi. 6, Without faith it is impoffible to pleafe God : for
he that cometh to God muft believe that he is, and that he is a re-
warder of them that diligently fetk him. Rom. xxiv. 23, What-
foever is not of faith, is fin.
i James ii. 17, Even fo faith, if it hath not works, is dead being
alone, v, 26, For as the body without the fpirit is dead, fo faith
without works is dead alfo.
/ Rom. iii. 21, 22, But now the righteoufnefs of God without
the law is rnanifefted, being witneffed by the law and the proph-
ets ; even the righteoufnefs of God which is by faith of Jefua
Chrift unto all, and upon all them that believe ; for there is no dif-
ference. Chap. iv. 4, 5, 6, Now to him that worketh, is the re-
ward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. Eut to him that work-
eth not, but believeth on him that juflifieth the ungodly, his faith
is counted for righteoufnefs. Even as David alfo defcribeth the
bleffednefs of the man unto whom God imputeth righteoufnefs
without works. *)
I Phil. iii. 4 — 9, If any other man thinketh that he hath where-
of he might truft in the flefli, I more •. — touching the righteoufnefs
which is in the law, blamelefs. But what things were gain to me,
thofe I counted lofs for Chrift. Yea doubtlefs, aud I count all
things but lofs, for the excellency of the knowledge of Chrift Je-
fus my Lord : for whom I have fuffered the lofs of all things, and
do count them but dung, that I may win Chrift, and be found in
him, not having mine own righteoufnefs, which is of the law, but
that which is through the faith of Chrift, the righteoufnefs which
is of God by faith. Ifa. Ixiv. 6, But we are all as an unclean thing,
and all our righteoufneffes are as filthy rags. Hof. xiii. 9, O Ifra-
el, thou haft deftroyed thyfelf, but in me is thine help. Ifa. xlv.
24, 25, Surely, ihall one fay, in the Lord have I righteoufnefs and
ftrength: even to him (hall men some, and all that are incenfed
■ againft him fhall be afhamed. In the Lord iliall all the feed of
Ifrael be ' juftified, and fhall glory.
m Tit. iii. Z, This is a faithful faying, and thefe tilings I will
that thou affirm conftantly 3 that they which have believed in Gcd
Sect. XVI. THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 233
Yet faith by works is perfecT made,
And by their prefence juftify 'd. n
But works with faith could never vie,
And only faith can juftify.
Yet ftlll my juftify ing. faith.
No juftifying value hath.^r
Lo, juftifying grace from heav'n
Is foreign ware, and freely given : q
might be careful to maintain good works: thefe things are good
and profitable unto men. James ii. 18, Yea, a man may fay, Thou
haft faith* and I have works ; ihew me thy faith without thy
works and I will fliew thee my faith by my works.
n James ii. at, 22, Was not Abraham our father juftjned by
works, when he had offered Sfaac his fon upon the altar ? See-hV
thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith
made perfect ? v. 24, Ye fee then hew that by works a man is
juflified. and not by faith only.
Rom. iv. 16, Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace ;
to the end the promife might be fare to all, the feed. Titus iii..
4 — 7, But afcer that the kindiieia and love of God our SavicuV
toward man appeared, not by worses of righteoufnefs, which trc
have done, but according to his tnercy he faved us by the wafl -
ing of regeneration, and renewing 61 the Holy Ghoft : wiireH he:
flied on us abundantly, through- Jelus Chrift our Saviour;
bein? juflified by his grace, we ihould be made heirs according to
the hope of eternal life. Acts x. 43, To him gave all t]ie proph-
ets witnefs, that through his name, whofoever believcth en him.
fhall receive remiiiicn of fins.
p Gal iii. 21, 22, Is the law then againft the promife?. of God ?
God forbid : for if there had'been a lav/ given which could have
given life, verily righteoufnefs iliould have been by the law. But
the fcripture hath concluded ail under .fin, that the promife bv
faith of Jefus Chrift- may he given to them that believe. Luke
xxii. 31, 32, And the Lord faid, Simon, Siraon, behold, Satan hatii
defired to have you, that he may lift you .as wheat ; but I have
prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not ; and when thou art con-
verted, ftrengthen thy brethren. 2 Cor. iii. 5, Not that we are
fufficient of ourfelves, to think any thing of curfelves ; but our
fufficiency is of God. Chap. xii. 5, Of fuch an one will I glory ;
yet of rnyfelf I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
q Rom. v. 16, 17— -The free gift is of many offences unto jufti*
fication. They which receive abundance of grace, and of the gift
of righteoufnefs, fhall reign in life by one Jefus Chrift. Chap. .
iii. 24, Being juft'fied freely by his grace, through the redemption
that is in Jefus Chrift.
u 2
234 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III.
And favirig fkith is well content
To be a- mere recipient, r
Failli's a&ive in my fandiity :/
But here its acl: it will deny, .f
And frankly cwn it never went
Beyond a paffive inflrument. i
I labour much, like holy Pan] ;
A nd yet not I but grace does all ; u
I try to fpread my little fails,
And wait for powerful moving gales, v
r Rom. v. ir, And not only fo,but wealfo joy in God, through
our Lord Jefus Chrift, by whom we have now received the atone*
mciit. <v. 17, See letter q.
/Gal. v. 6, For in Jefus Chrifr, neither circumcifion availeth
any thing, nor uncircumcifion, but faith which worketh by love.
' AcSts xv. 9, God put no difference between us and them, purifying
their hearts by faith. Chap. xxvi. 18, To open their eyes, and to
turn '.hem from darknefs to light, and from the power of Satan
unto God, that they may receive forgivenefs of iins, and inheri-
tance among them which are fane?cified by faith that is in me.
s Rom. iv. 16, Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace.
-Chap. xL 6, And if by grace, then it is no more of works ; other-
- i -- "race is no more grace.
^Epk ii. 3, ;-, For by grace are ye faved through faith; and
that n .elves : it is the gift of God : not of works, left any
man flioujd bosiCfc t Cor. iv. 7, For who maketh thee to difFer
another? and what hail thou that thou didft not receive?
new if thou didft receive it^ why & r :il thou glory as if thou hadft
net received it ? Heb. xi. 11, Through faith alio Sarah herfelf
received ftrength to conceive feed, and was delivered of a child
when ihe was paid: age, becaufe Hie judged him faithful who had
promifed. v. 17, By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered
up iiaac : and he that had received the promifes, offered up his
only begotten Son. <zi. 19, Accounting that God was able toraife
him up, even from the dead : from whence alifo he received him
in a figure. «y. 2>5> Women received their dead ralfed to life again :
and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance ; that they
might obtain a better refurreclion.
u 1 Cor. xv. 10, But by the grace of God I am what I am : and
lis grace which was bellowed upon me, was not in vain ; but I la-
boured more abundantly than they all ; yet not I, but the grace
of God which was with me.
v Pfalm Ixxi. 16, I will go in the ftrength of the Lord God; I
will make mention of thy righteoufoefs, even of thine only. Song
Sect. XVI. THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 235
When powVs convey'd, I work ; but fee,
'Tfs ftill his pow'r that works in me.
I am an agent at his call,
Yet nothing am, for grace is alL <zv
II. Of rewards of Grace and Debt
Ik all my works I Mill regard
The recompence of full reward ; x
Yet fuch my working is with all,
I look for no reward at alhj?
God's my reward exceeding great,
No leiTer heav'n that this I wait ; ss
IV. 16, Awake, O north wind, 2nd come, thou fouth, blow upon
my garden, that the fpices thereof may flow out.
*tv Phil. ii. 12, 13, Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always
obeyed, not as in my prefence only, but now much more in my ab-
sence ; workout your own falvation with fear and trembling. For
it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his good
pleafure. Gal. ii. 20, I am crucified with Chrift; Neverthelefs I
Rve ; yet not I, but Chrift liveth in me; and the life which I now
J- vein the flefli, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved
me, and gave himfelf for me. 2 Cor. xii, 9, And the Lord faid un-
to me, My grace is fufneient for thee; for my ftrength is made
perfect in weaknefs. Mod gladly therefore will I rather glory in.
my infirmities, that the power of Chrift may reft upon me.
x Heb. xi. 24, 25, 26, By faith Mofes, when he was come to
years, refufed to be called the fen of Pharoak-'s daughter ; choof-
ing rather to fuffer affliction with the people of God, than to en-
joy the pleafure of fin for a feafon ; efteeming the reproach of
Chrift greater riches than the treafures in Egypt ; for he had refr
peel unto the recompence of the reward. ■»
y I Tim. i. 9, God hath faved us, and called us with an holy
calling, not according to our works, but according to bis own pur-
pofe and grace which was given us in Chrift Jefus, before the
world began. Titus iii. 5, Not by works of righteoufnefs, which
we have done, but according to his mercy he faved us by the waili-
ing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghoft.
z Gen. xv. 1, After thefe things the -word of the Lord came un-
to Abram in a vifioi}, feying, Fear not, Abram ; I am thy iliield,
and thy exceeding great reward. Pfalm lxxiii. 25, 26, Whom
have I in heaven but thee ? and there is none upon earth that I
defire befide thee. My flefli and my heart faileth ; but God is the
ftrength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
236 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III.
But where's the earning work fo broad,
To fet me up an heir. of God ? a
Rewards of debt, rewards of grace,
Are oppofites in every cafe ; b
Yet fure I am they'll both agree
Moil jointly in rewarding me. c
Though hell's my juft reward for fin d
Heay'h as my juft reward I'll win. e
Both thefe my juft rewards I know,
Yet truly neither of them fo.*
a Ezek. xxxvi. 32, Not for your fakes do I this, faith the Lord
God, be it known unto you - y be afhamed and confounded for your
own ways, O houfe of Ifrati. Rom. viii. 16, 17, The Spirit ltfelf
beareth witnefs with our fpirit, that we are the children of God.
And if children, then heirs : heirs of God, and joint heirs with
Chrifl
b Rom. iv. 4, Now to him that worketh, is the reward not rec- ■
koned of grace, but of debt.
c Pfalm IviiL 11, Verily there is a reward for the righteous;
verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth, lfa. lxii. 11, Behold
the Lord hath proclaimed unto the end pf the world, Say ye to
the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy falvation cometh; behold, his
reward is with him, and his work before him.
flf'Rom, vi. ai, What fruit had ye then in thofe things, where-
of ye are now afhamed ? for the end of thofe things is death, v.
2$, The wages of fin is death. Eph. v. 6, Let no man deceive you
with vain words ; for becaufe of thefe things cometh the wrath of
God upon the children of difobedience. Gal. iii, 10, For as many,
as are of the works of the law, are under the curfe ; for it is writ-
ten, Curfed is every one that continueth not in ali things which
are written in the book of the law to do them.
e Gal. iii. 13, 14, Chrifl: hath redeemed us from the curfe of the
law, being made a curfe for us ; for it is written, Curfed is every
one that hangeth on a tree; that the blefhng of Abraham might.
come on the Gentiles thro' Jefus Chrifl ; that we might receive
the promife of the Spirit through faith. Eph. i. 13, 14, In Chrift
alfo after that ye believed, ye were fealed with that holy Spirit of
promife, which is the earneft of our inheritance until the redemp-
tion of the purchafed pofTeflion, unto the praife of his glory. Rom.
v. ai, Grace reigns through righteousnefs unto eternal life, by Je-.
fus Chrift our Lord. AjicI vi. a3, The gift of God is eternal life..
through jefus Chrifl our Lord.
* Through thefe oppofite voices of law and gofpeL.
Sect. XVI. THE BELIEVER'* RIDDLE. 237
Hell can't in juftice be my lot,
Since juftice fatisfadtion got;/
Nor heaven in juftice be my ihare,
Since mercy only brings me there. g
Yet heaven is mine by folemn oath,
In juftice and in mercy both : h
And God in Chrift is all my trail*
Becaufe he's merciful and juft. i
f Rom. Hi. 25, 26, Whom God hath fet forth to be a propitia-
tion, through faith in his blood, to declare his righteoufnefs for
the remilfion of fins that are paft, through the forbearance of God;
to declare, I fay, at this time his righteoufnefs, that he might be
juft, and the juftifier of him which believeth in Jefus.
g Romans ix. 15, 16, God faith to Mofes, I will have mercy on
whom I will have mercy, and I will have companion on whom I
will have companion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor
of him that runneth ; but of God that fheweth mercy. Tit. iii 4 3
-— 7, But after that the kindnefs and love of God cur Saviour to-
ward man appeared, not by works of righteoufnefs which we have
done, but according to his mercy he faved us by the waihing of
regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghoft ; which he ilied on
us abundantly through Jefus Chrift our Saviour ; that being jufiL-
fied by bis grace, we ihould be made heirs according to the hope
of eternal life.
h Pfalm Ixxxix, 35, 7,6, Once have I fworn by my holinefs, that
I will not lie unto David. His feed fhall endure for ever, and his
throne as the fun before me. Heb. vi. 17, 18, Wherein God will-
ing more abundantly to fhew unto the heirs of promife the im-
mutability of his counfel, confirmed it by an oath ; that by two
immutable things, in which it was impoilible for God to lie, we
might have a ftrong confolation, who have fled for refuge to lay
hold upon the hope fet before us. Pfalm Ixxxix. 14, Juftice and
judgment are the habitation of thy throne ; mercy and truth fhall
go before thy face. «z>. 16, In thy name fhall they rejoice all the
day ; and in thy righteoufnefs fhall they be exalted, v. 24, But my
faithfulnefs and my mercy fhall be within him [David my fervant]
and in thy name iliall his horn be exalted. <v. 28, My mercy will
I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant iliall Hand faft
with him.
i Heb. ii. 17, Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made
likff unto his brethren ; that he might be a merciful and faithful
high pricO:, in things pertaining to God, to mr.ke reconciliation
for the fins of the people. 1 John i. 6. 8, 9, If we walk in the
light, a£ God is in the light, we havefellowihip one wills another,
and the blood of Jefus Chrift the Son cleanfeth us from all fin. If
we fay that we have no fin, we deceive ourfclrcs, and the truth
238 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part III;
CONCLUSION.
Here is the riddle, where's the man
Of judgment to expound ?
For mafters fam'd that cannot fcan,
In Ifrael may be found, a
We juftly thofe in wifdom's lift
Eftablifh'd faints may call,
Whofe bitter fweet experience bled
Can clearly grafp it all. b
Some babes in grace may mint * and mar, * tfoy*-
Yet aiming right fucceed : c
But ftrangers they in Ifrael are,
Who not at all can read, d
is not in us. If we confefs our fins he is faithful and jufl to for-
give us our fins, and to clcanfe us from ail unrighteoufnefs.
a John iii. 10, Jefus anfwered and faid unto Nicodemus, Art
thou a maftcr of Ifrael, and knoweft not thefe things ?
b Matth. xi. 25, At that time Jefus anfwered and faid, I thank
thee, OTather, Lord of heaven and earth, becaufe thou haft hid
thefe things from the wife and prudent, and haft revealed them
unto babes. And xiii. 11, Jefus anfwered and faid unto his difct-
ples, Becaufe it is given unto you to know the myfteries of the
kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
c 1 Cor. iii. 1, 2, And I, brethren, could not fpeak unto you as
unto fpiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in~Chrift. I
•have fed you with milk, and not with meat; for hitherto ye were
not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. Heb. v. 12, 13,
14, For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need
that one teach you again which be the firft principles of the ora-
cles of God, and are become fuch as have need of milk, and not
of ftrong meat. For every one that ufeth milk is unikilful in the
word of righteoufnefs ; for he is a babe. But ftrong meat belong-
eth to them that are of full age, even thofe who, by reafon of ufe,
have their fenfes exercifed to difcern both good and evil. And
vi. 1, Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Chrift,
let us go.cn unto perfection ; not laying again the foundation of
repentance from dead works, and of faith towards God, &c. 1 John
ii. 12, 13, I write unto you, little children, becaufe your fins are
forgiven you for his name's fake.— I write unto you, little children,
becaufe ye have known the Father.
d 2 Cor. iv. 3, 4, But if our gofpel be hid, it is hid to them that
are loft ; in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of
them which believe not, left the light of the glorious gofpel of
Chrift, who is the image of God, fhould fhine unto them.
GOSPEL SONNETS.
PART IF,
THE
BELIEVER'S LODGING AND INN WHILE ON EARTH;
OR,
A POEM AND PARAPHRASE UPON PSALM LXXXIV.
Ver» I* How amiable are thy tabernacles, Lord of hojls !
J EHOVAH, Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft,
-Sole Monarch of the univerfal hoft,
Whom the attendant armies ftill revere,
Which in bright robes furround the higher fphere ;
Whofe fovereign empire fvvays the hellifh'band
Of ranked legions in the infernal land ;
Who hold'ft the earth at thy unrivall'd beck,
And ft ay eft proud forces with a humbling check ;
Ev'n thou whofe name commands an awful dread,
Yet deigns to dwell with man in very deed ;
O what refrefhment fills the dwelling place
Of thine exuberant unbounded grace !
Which with fweet power does joy and praife extort,
In Zion's tents, thine ever lov'd refort :
Where glad'ning ftreams of mercy from above
Make fouls brim full of warm feraphic love.
Of fweeteft. odours all thy garment fmells-,
Thy difmal abfence proves a thoufand hells,
But heavens of joy are where thine honour dwells
j
Ver. 2. My foul longeth, yea even faint eth for the courts of
the Lord : my heart and my jlefh crieth out for the living
God.
Therefore on thee I centre my defire,
Which veh'mently burfts out in ardent fire.
Deprived, ah ! I languifh in my plaint,
My bones are feeble, and my fpirits faint.
fc:
1
2 4 o GOSPEL SONNETS, Part IV.
My longing foul pants to behold again
Thy temple filPd with thy majeftic train ;
Thofe palaces with heavenly odour ftrew'd,
And regal c^rirts, where Zion's King is viewed
To fee the b^tuty of the higheft One,
Upon his holy mount, his lofty throne :
Whence virtue running from the living Plead
Reftores the dying and revives the dead :
For him my heart with cries repeated (bunds,
To which my fiefti with echo loud rebounds
For him, for him, who life in death can give,
For him, for him, whofe fole prerogative
Is from and to eternity to live.
Ver. 3. Tea, the /par row hath found an houfe, and the /wal-
low a neji for herfelf where fie may lay her young, even
thine altars ', Lord of ho/Is , ?ny King and my God*
Alas ! how from thy lovely dwellings I,
Long banihVd, do the happy birds envy ;
Which, choofmg thy high altars for their neft,
On rafters of thy tabernacle reft !
Here dwells the fparrow of a chirping tongue,
And here the fwallow lays her tender young ;
Faint facrilege, they feize the facred fpot,
And feem to glory o'er my abfent lot.
Yet fure I have more fpecial right to thee
Than all the brutal ho (Is of earth and fea ;
That Sovereign at whofe government they bow,
Is wholly mine by his eternal vow ;
My King to rule my heart and quell my foes,
My God t' extract my well from prefent woes,
And crown with endlefs glory at the clofe.
i
"er. 4. Blejfed are they that dwell in thy honfe ; they will
he Jlill praifing thee.
O happy they that haunt thy houfe below-
And to thy royal fanctuary flow :
Not for itfelf, but for the glorious One,
Who there inhabits his erected throne !
Part IV. THE BELiEVER/s LODGING. 241
Others pais by, celling is !
O happy people c bays of blifs !
Blefs'd with the fplendid lufoe of his face*
Blefs'd with the high melodious found of grace,
That wakens fouls into a fweet amaze,
And turns their fpirits to a harp of praife ;
Which loudly makes the 3 ewer temple ring'
With hallelujahs to the mighty King :
And thus they antedate the nobler fong
Of that celeftial and triumphant throng,
Who warble notes of praife eternity along.
}
Ver. 5. Blejfed is the man nvhofe Jlrengih is in thee v— -
What weights of blifs their happy moulders load,
Whofe ftrength lies treafur'd in a potent God \
Self drained fouls, yet flowing to the brim,
Becaufe void in themfelves, but full in him.
Adam the foil difcufs'd their flock of ftrength,
The fecond.well retriev'd the fum at length ;
Who keeps himfelf a furer hand indeed,
To give not as they lift, but as they need.
When raging furies threaten fud den harms,
He then extends his everlaftmg arms ;
When fatan drives his pointed fiery daftg,
: He gives them courage and undaunted hearts
To quell his deadly force with divine fid
And adds new ftrength to do their Sovereign's • *
When fore harafs'd by fome outrageous hut, 1
He levelling its power unto the duft i.
Makes faints to own him worthy of their truft. J
Ver. 6. In nvhofe hearts are the ways of them, who pq$k
through the valley of Bacca> make it a well : the :\
fdleth the pools.
Such heav'n born fouls are not to earth confiu'd,
Truth's highway fills his elevated mind :
They, bound for Zion, prefs with forward aim,
As Ifra'ls males to old Jerusalem.
W
i.\i GOSPEL SONNETS. Part IV.
Their holy path lies through a parched land,
Through oppofitions numerous and grand.
Traverfmg fcorched deferts, ragged rocks,
And Bacca's wither'd vale, like thirfty flocks :
Yet with unfhaken vigour homeward go,
Not mov'd by all oppofmg harms below.
They digging wells on this Gilboa top,
The vale of Achor yields a door of hope :
For Heav'n in plenty does their labour crown,
By making filver fhow'rs to trickle down ;
Till empty pools imbibe a pleafant fill,
And weary fouls are heart'ned up the hill,
By mafTy drops of joy which down diftr
hill, 1
til. $
Ver. 7. They go from Jircngth to ftrength, every one of them
in Zion appeareth before God.
Thus they, refreflied by fuperior aid,
Are not defatigated nor difmay'd ;
Becaufe they are, O truth of awful dread 1
As potent as Jehovah in their Head.
Hence they fhall travel w T ith triumphant minds,
In fpite of ragged paths and boift'rous winds.
The rougheft ways their vigour ne'er abates,
Each new affault their ftrength redintegrates.
When they through mortal blows feem to give o'er,
Their ftrength by intermiting gathers more.
And thus they, with unweary'd zeal endu'd,
Still as they journey have their ftrength renew'd :
So glorious is the race, that once begun
Each one contends his fellow to outrun ;
Till all uniting in a glorious band,
Before the Lamb's high throne adoring ftand,
And harp his lofty praife in Zion land.
Ver. 8. Lord God of hq/!s 9 hear my prayer : give ear^
God of Jacob,
Great God of num'rous hofts, who reigns alone
The fole poffeifor of th' imperial throne ;
Since mental taftes of thy delicious grace
J
Part IV. THE BELIEVER'S LODGING. 213
So fweetly rellfh in thy holy place,
This is the fubject of my tabled prayer,
To have the vifion of thy glory there.
O let my cry pierce the ethereal frame,
And mercy's echo follow down the fame,
Omnifcient Being, favour my defire,
Hide not thy goodnefs in paternal ire :
Why, thou haft given in an eternal band
To Jacob and his feed thy royal hand,
And promis'd by thy facred Deity,
His King and covenanted God to be :
Therefore my hopes are center'd all in thee,
Ver. 9. Behold, God> ourjbteld, and look upon the face of
thine anointed.
Omnipotent, whofe armour none can wield,
Zion's great buckler and defenfive fhielcT;
Thy pure untainted eyes cannot behold
Deformed mortals in their finful mould :
Unlefs their names be graved on thebreait
Of Zion's holy confecrated Prieft.
When they his white and glorious garment wear,
Then fin and guilt both wholly difappear :
Becaufe o'erwhelmed in the crimfon flood,
And ocean of a dying Surety's blood 1
They alio, vefted with his radiant grace,
Reflect the luftre of his holy face.
They're not themfelves now, but divinely trim,
For wholly what they are, they are in him :
And hence Jehovah's all difcerning eye
Cannot in them efpy deformity.
Then look on him, Lord ; and in him on me,
Ver. ic. For a day in thy courts is letter than a thoufand ;
I had rather he a door keeper in the houfe of my God, than
to dwell in the tents of luiciednefs.
May I poiTefs, as thy domeftic child,
The houfe that by Jehovah's name is fly I'd :
For royal glories deck thofe courts of thine,
}
y
GOSPtL SONNETS. Part IV.
Which with majeflic rays fo brightly mine,
That fhould my mind p relent an earth of gold,
A s ili 11 o£ worldly ', :an held :
Sweet gjface fo fills tfey 'A^ e t0 ^P are
One mon .,'c,
No earthly object ihall my 3 ae,
That Being which poffefTes all, is mine,
My fplrit therefore rather would embrace
The meaneft office in his holy place,
And by the threshold of his houfe within,
Than fit in fplendour on a throne of fin,
In Jefus' courts I'd choofe the lowed place,
At his faints' feet, fo I might fee his face.
Yea, tho' my lamp of outward peace fhould burn 1
Mod brightly, yet I would inceiTant mourn, J-
While in a wicked Meiech I fbjourn. J
Ver. 1 1. F$}\ the Lord God is a fun and Jhteld : the Lord
ivill give grace and glory ; no gocd iking will be withhold
from them thai walk vt rightly.
For God the Lord, whofe courts I love to haunt.
Is ev'ry thing that empty fouls can want ;
A fun for light, a fiiield for ftrength ; yea, more,
On earth he gives his grace, in heav'n his glore.
This radiant fun, of life and light the fource ;
Scatters the (hades by circumambient courfe ;
Yea, guides bemided fouls with heartfome beams,
And glorioully irradiating gleams.
This maffy (liield is poliih'd bright with power,
For helping weaklings in a per'lous hour.
Here's all that weary travellers would have,
A fun to cherifh, and a fhield to fave.
Grace alfo here is given t' adorn the foul,
And yield to glory in the heav'nly pole.
All divine treafure to the faint is due ;
Nothing's deny'd, if truth itfelf be true.
The treafure is fo yaft it can't be told ;
Nothing that God can give, will God withhold.
To whom he doth his faving grace impart,
To them he gives himielf, his hand, his heart ;
Part IV. THE BELIEVER'S LODGING. 245
Uprightness too of heart and life does fall
Unto their fh are, who having him, have all.
In them the grace he gives, he ftill regards ;
Gives holinefs, and then his gift rewards. -
For to his own upright and divine brood ->
He's bound to grant ev'n all that's great and good, C
By's own fure word, firm oath, and faered blood. J
Ver. 12. Lord of hof^ Bkfid is the man that trufrh i*
thee.
O then, Jehovah, God of armies flrong,
To whom the powers of earth and heav'n belong
How vaftly bleffed is the fixed man. °
Who by a firm fiducial holdnefs can,
Through grace and ftrength difpenfed from above,
So fweetly lean the height of divine love,
As to derive his comfort wholly thence,
And on this rock to found his confidence !
Whofe faith has rear'd up for a firm abode
A ftable building on a living God ?
Who, fpoiPd of human props both great and &&%
Does choofe a tri-une deity for all ?
What ibrolls of blifs are in this All inroiPd,
Is too fublime for feraph's to unfold.
Sift, human wifdom, in a deep amaze I 7
Let rapid floods of life his glory raife, i
Till time be drown'd in his eternal praife. V
A fourfold Exercife for the Believer in Bis
Lodging on earth.
L THE HOLT LAJF.
OR;
The Ten Commandments, Exod. xx. 3—17.
1. No God but me thou flaah adore.
2. No image frame to bow before.
3. My holy name take not in vain.
4- My faered fabbath don't profane.
w 2
246 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part IV.
j; To parents render due refpect.
6. Ail murder fhun, and malice check.
7. From filth and whoredom bafe abftalfl ;
8. From theft and all unlawful gain.
9. Falfe witneis five, and flandering fpite ;
10. Nor covet what's thy neighbour's right.
II. 'The Unholy Heart > the direct oppojite of God's holy
and nghteous Law 9 Rom. vii. 14.
The Knowledge of Sin by the Law, Rom. Hi. 20.
1 . My heart's to many gods a flave ;
2. Of imagery an hideous cave.
3. An hoard of God dishon'ring crimes ;
4. A waiter bafe of holy times ;
5. A throne of pride and felf-conceit ;
6. A flaughter houfe of wrath and hate ;
*]L A cage of birds and thoughts unclean ;
8- A den of thieves and frauds unfeen ;
9. A heap of calumnies unfpent ;
1 o. A gulph of greed and difcontent.
III. The Glorious Go/pel ;
OR,
Chrift the end of the Law for Righteoufnefs, Rom. x.
4 ; and the abfolute need cf this remedy inferred from
the premifes.
Hence I conclude, and clearly fee,
There's by the law no life for me ;
Which damns each foul to endlefs thrall
Whofe heart and life fulfil not all.
What fliall I do, unlefs for bail
I from the law to grace appeal ?
She reigns through Jefus righteoufnefs,
Which, giving juflice full redrefs,
On grace's door this motto grav'd,
< Let fin be damn'd, and finners fav'd, .'
Part IV. THE BELIEVERS LODGING, 247
O wifdcm's deep myfterious way ! >
Lo, at this door I'll waiting (lay, %
Till fin and hell both pafs away, j
But in this blifs to {hew my part, 1
Grant, thro' thy law grav ? d in my. hear t> >
My life may fhew thy graving art, J
IV. The Prayer of Faith.
Which may be conceived in the following words of a
certain author :
Sim tuns in vita, tua fint mea fimera, Chrifte ;
Da, precor. imperii fceptra tenere tui.
Cur etenim moriens, tot vulnera faeva tulifti,
Si non fum regni portio parva tui ?
Cur rigido latuit tua vita inclufa fepulchro,
Si non eft mea mors morte fugata tua ?
Ergo mihi certain prseftes, O Chrifte, falutem$
Meque tuo lotum fanguine, Chrifte, juva.
Which may be thus Engljjhed :
jefus I'm thine in life and death,
Oh let me conquering hold thy throne*
Why fhar'd the crofs thy vital breath,
If not to make me fhare thy crown ?
Why laid in jail of cruel grave,
If not thy death from death me free ?
Then, Lord, infure the blifs I crave,
Seal'd with thy blood, and fucccmr rrie.
GOSPEL SONNETS.
PART r.
The Believer's Soliloquy, efpecially in times of
defertion, diftrefs, aiili&ion, &c.
SECT. I. The def cried Believer longing for perfed freedom
from Jin.
i \.H mournful cafe ! what ean afford
Contentment when an abfent Lord
Will now his kindnefs never prove
By fmiles of grace nor lines of love !
What heart can joy, what foul can fingy
While winter overruns the fpring !
I die, yet can't my death condole ;
Lord, fave a dying, drooping fouh
In pain, yet unconcern'd 1 live,
And ianguifh when I fiiould believe.
Lord, if thou ceafe to come and flay,
My foul in fin will pine away.
In fin, whofe ill no tongue can tell,
To live is death, to die is hell ;
O fave, if not from thrall's arreft,
Yet fave me, Lord, from fin at leaft.
This for his merit's fake I feek,
Whofe blood and wounds do mercy fpeak j
Who left the rank of glorious choirs,
And heavenly flowers for earthly briers.
Our Sampfon took an holy nap
Upon our feeble nature's lap ;
He, wand'ring in a pilgrim's weed,
Did tafle our griefs to help our need. *
Earth's fury did upon him light ;
How black was Herod's cruel fpite„
Sect. I. THE BELIEVER'S SOLILOQUY. 249
Who, to be fure of murcle ring one,
Left he be fpar'd did pity none !
Hell hunts the babe a few days old
That came to rifle Satan's fold ?
All hands purfued him even to death.
That came to fave from fin and wrath,
O mercy ignorant of bounds,
Which all created thought confounds !
He ran outright a faying race
For them that unto death him chafe.
O fin, how heavy is thy weight
That prefs'd the glorious God of might !
Till, proitrate on the freezing ground,
He iweat his clotted blood around !
His hand the ponderous globe does prop,
This weight ne'er made him fweat a drop ;
But when fin's load upon him lies,
He falls, and fweats, and groans, and dies.
Alas ! if God fink under fin,
How ill all the man that dies therein !
How deeply down, when to the load
He adds the flighted blood of God ?
Lord, let thy fall my rife obtain,
Thy grievous fhame my glory gain ;
Thy crofs my lading crown procure,
Thy death my endlefs life infure.
O fend me down a draught of love,
Or take me hence to drink above ;
Here Marah's water fills my cup,
But there all griefs are fwallowed up.
Love here is fcarce a faint defire,
But there the fpark's a flaming fire.
Joys here are drops that pafling flee,
But there an overflowing fea.
My faith that fees lb thrkiy here,
Will there refign to vilicn clear \
250 GOSPEL SONNETS. PartV.
My hope, that's here a weary groan,
Will to fruition yield the throne.
Here fetters hamper freedom's wing,
But there the captive is a king ;
And grace is like a buried feed,
But iinners there are faints indeed.
Thy portion here's a crumb at beft,
But there, the Lamb's eternal feafl ;
My praife is now a fmother'd fire,
But there I'll fmg and never tire.
Now dufky fhadows cloud my day,
But then the fliades will flee away ;
My Lorii will break the dimming glafs,
And fliew his glory face to face.
My numerous foes now beat me down,
But then I'll wear the viclor's crown ;
Yet all the revenues I'll bring
To Zion's everlafling King.
SECT. II. The deferted Believer's prayer undsr complaints
of imlelief darknefs y deadnejs y and hardnefs.
What means this wicked, wand'ring heart?
This trembling ague of my foul ?
Would Jefus but a look impart,
One look from him would make me whole.
But will he turn to me his face,
From whom he juftly did withdraw ?
To me that flighted all that grace
I in my paft experience faw ?
Lord, for thy promife fake, return,
Apply thy pard'ning, cleanfing blood ;
Look down with pity on a worm,
With covenant mercy do me good.
When thy free Spirit the word applies,
And kindly tells me thou art mine,
My faithlefs finking heart replies,
Ah, Lord ! I wifh I could be thine.
Sect. II. THE BELIEVER'S SOLILOQUY. 251
My faith's fo 'nighted in- my doubts,
I caft the offer' d good away ;
And lofe, by railing vain difputes,
The wonted bleffings of the day.
Was e'er one prefs'd with fuch a load,
Or pierc'd with fuch an unfeen dart :
To find at once an abfent God,
And yet, alas ! a carelefs heart ?
Such grief is mine, a grieflefs grief,
Did ever any mortal fhare ?
An hopelefs hope, a lifelefs life,
Or fuch unwonted carelefs care ?
"Tis fad, Lord ! when for night's folace,
Nor moon, nor flarry gleams appear :
Yet worfe, when in this difrnal cafe
My heart is harden' d from thy fear.
*Twas not becaufe no fhowers did flow
Of heavenly manna at my door ;
But by my folly Vm into
A worfe condition than before.
Come, Lord, wich greater power ; for why?
Mine fure is not a common cafe :
Thou offer eft to unvail ; yet I
. Do fcarce incline to fee thy face.
Such languid faint deilres I feel
Within this wicked ilupid heart :
I fliould, I would, but that I will
I hardly dare with truth affert.
to be free of that vile wrack,
That bafely keeps me from my God !
1 flee from thee, Lord ; bring me back
By tender love, or by thy rod.
In paths of righteoufnefs direct,
New proofs of thy remiffion give ;
Then of thy name I'll mention make
With grateful praifes while I live. ,
252 GOSPEL SONNETS. PartV
On banks of mercy's boundlefs deep,
With fwifter eafe V\\ foar and fing, '
Than kings of feathered hofts, that iweep
The oozy fhore with eafy wing.
But if thy mind omniicient know
I'm for this abfcni blifs. unfit,
Give grace to hate my fins, and to
Their righteous puniihment fubmit.
But let me ne'er my Spirit lack,
That by his aid my prayers may come
Before him, who can wifely make
Ev'n diftance lead his people home.
Deep wifdom can my foul prepare
By prefent woes for abfent blifs.
By acid griefs that now I fharc,
He can convey the joys I mils.
Who all from nothing's womb difclos'd,
Can make th' amazing product ceafe ;
With him our order is confus'd,
By him confufion brings forth peace.
Then, Lord, ne'er let me bafely fpurn
Againft thy fearchlefs unknown ways ;
But magnify thy work, and turn
My groans and murmurs into praife.
Let me fubmiffive, while I live,
Thy awful juftice awn with fear ;
Yet penfive let me never grieve
Thy tender mercy by defpair.
Since though by fin I foully fwerv'd,
And lewdly from my glory fell,
I'm chaften'd here and not referv'd
To feel the weight of fin and hell.
Thy high right hand's once joyful days
In my diftrefs I'll call to mind ;
And own that all thy darkeft ways
Will clearly prove thee good and kind.
gecl, III. THE BELIEVERS SOLILOQUY. 253
SECT* III. The Believer wading through dteps of de~
frrtlon and corruption.
Lord, when thy face thou hid'ft,
And leav'ft me long to plore,
I faithlefs doubt of all thou didft
And wr ought* ft for me before.
No marks of love I find,
No grains of grace, but wracks ;
No track of heav'n is left behind*
No groans, no fmoking flax.
But fay, if all 4:he gufts
And grains of love be fpent,
.Say, Farewel Chrift, and welcome lulls s
Stop, flop ; I melt, I faint.
Lord, yet thou haft my heart,
This bargain black I hate ;
I dare not, cannot, will not part
With thee at fuch a rate,
Once, like a father good,
Thou didft with grace perfume ;
Waft thou a father to conclude
With dreadful judge's doom 2
Confirm thy former deed,
Reform what is denTd ;
I was, I am, I ft ill abide
Thy choice, thy charge, thy child*
Love-feals thou didft impart,
Lock'd up in mind I have ;
Hell cannot rafe out of my heart
What Heav'n did there engrave.
Thou once didft make me whole
By thy almighty hand 1
Thou mad'ft me vow and gift my foul 5
Both vow and gift fhall ftand.
But, fmce my folly grofs,
My joyful cup did fpill,
25+ GOSPEL SONNETS. Pa&tV.
Make me the captive of thy crofs,
Submiffive to thy will.
Self in myfelf I hate,
That's matter of my groan ;
Nor can I rid me from the mate
That caufes me to moan.
frail, inconftant fielh !
Soon trapt in ev'ry gin ;
Soon turn'd, o'erturn'd, and fo afrefh
Plung'd in the gulph of fin,
Shall I be flave to fin,
My Lord's moft bloody foe !
1 feel its pow'rful fway within,
How long fhall it be fo ?
How long, Lord, {hall I flay ?
How long in Mefech here ?
Difhon'ring thee from day to day,
Whole name's to me fo dear ?
While fin, Lord, breeds my grief,
And makes me fadly pine ;
With blinks of grace, O grant relief,
Till beams of glory {Line.
SECT. IV. Complaint of 'Jin , forroiv^ and want of love*
If black doom by defert fhould go,
Then, Lord, my due defert is death ;
Which robs from fouls immortal joy,
And from their bodies mortal breath.
But in fo great a Saviour,
Can e'er fo bafe a worm's annoy
Add any glory to thy pow'r,
Or any gladnefs to thy joy ?
Thou juftly may'ft me doom to death,
And everlafting flames of fire ;
But on a wretch to pour thy wrath
Can never fure be worth thine ire.
Sea. IV. THE BELIEVER'S SOLILOQUY. 255
Since Jefus the atonement was,
Let tender mercy me releaie ;
Let him be umpire of my caufe,
And pais the giadtome doom of peace.
Let, grace forgive and love forget
And temper tl
With love and mercy towards me.
The ruffling winds and raging blafts
Hold me in conftant cruel chace ; -
They break my anchors, fails, and malls,
Allowing no repofing place.
The boifl'rous feas with fwelling floods,
On every fide againif me fight.
Heav'n, overcaft with flormy clouds,
Dims all the planets' guiding light.
The hellifh furies lie in w r ait,
To win my foul into their pow'r ;
To make me bite at ev'ry bait,
And thus my killing bane devour.
I lie enchain'd in fin and thrall,
Next reorder unto black defpair ;
Till grace reftore, and of my fall
The doleful ruins all repair.
My hov'ring thoughts would flee to glore,
And neille fafe above the fey ;
Fain would my trembling fhip afhore
At that fare anchor quiet lie.
But mounting thoughts are haled down
With heavy poife of corrupt load ;
And blufVring ftorms deny with frown
An harbour of fee are abode.
To drown the wight that wakes the blafr,
Thy fm-fubduing grace afford ;
The florin might ceafe, could I but call
This troublous Jonah overboard.
256 GOSPEL SONNETS. FartV.
Bafe flefli, with flefhly pleafures gain'd,
Sweet grace's kindly fuit declines :
When mercy courts me for its friend,
Anon my fordid flefh repines.
Soar up, my foul, to Tabor hill,
Caft off this loathfome prefling load ;
Long is the date of thine exile,
While abfent from the Lord thy God.
Dote not on earthly weeds and toys,
Which do nst, cannot fuit thy tafte :
The flowers of everlafting joys
Grow up apace for thy repaft.
Sith that the glorious God above
In Jefus bears a love to thee ;
How bafe, how brutiih is thy love
Of any being lefs than he ?
Who for thy love did choofe thy grief,
Content in love to live and die :
Who lov'd thy love more than his life,
And with his life thy love did buy.
Since then the God of richeft love
With thy poor love enamoured is ;
Plow high a crime will thee reprove
If not enamour'd deep with his ?
Since on the verdant field of grace
His love does thine fo hot purfue ;
Let love meet love with chafte embrace,
Thy mite a thoufand fold is due.
Rife, love, thou early heaven, and fmg,
Young little dawn of endlefs day :
I'll on thy mounting fiery wing
In joyful raptures melt away.
SECT. V. The deferted Soul's prayer for the Lord's gra*
clous and Jin-fubduing prefence.
Kind Jefus, come in love to me,
And make no longer ftay y
Seel. V. THE BELIEVERS SOLILOQUY. 257
Or eKe receive my foul to thee,
That breathes to be away.
A Lazar at thy gate I lie,
As well it me becomes,
For children's bread afham'd to cry :
O grant a dog the crumbs.
My wounds and rags my need proclaim,
They needful help infure :
My wounds bear witnefs that I'm lame,
My rags that I am poor.
Thou many at thy door doft feed
With mercy when diftreft ;
O wilt thou not fnew an alms deed
To me among the reft ?
None elfe can give my foul relief*
None elfe can eafe my moan,
Eut he whofe abfence is my grief :
Ail other joys be gone.
How can I ceafe from, fad complaint,,
How can I be at reft ?
My mind can never be content
To want my noble gueft.
Drop down, mine eyes, and never tire,.
Ceafe not on any terms,
Until I have my heart's defire,
My Lord within mine arms.
Sly heart, my hand, my fpirits fail,
When hiding off he goes ;
My flefli, my foes, my Tufts prevail,
And work, my daily woes.
When fhalll fee that glorious fight
Will all my fins deftroy ?
That Lord of love, that lamp of light,
Will banifh all annoy ?
G could I but from finning ceafe,
And wait on Pifgah's hill,
x 2
8 GOSPEL. SONNETS. Part V,
Until I fee him face to face,
Then ihould my foul be -ft ill.
But firtee corruption cleaves to me
While I in Kedar dwell ;
O give me leave to long for thee,
For abfenee is a hell.
Thy glory fhould be dear to me,
Who me fo dear haft bought :
O fave from rendering ill to thee
For good which thou foot wrought.
With fear I crave, with hope I cry,
Oh promis'd favour fend ;
Be thou thyfelf, though changeling I
Ungratefully offend.
Out cf thy way remove the lets,
Cleanfe this polluted den ;
Tender my fuits, cancel my debts :
S^;eet Jefus, fay Amen.
SECT. VI. The Scmg of Heaven defired ty Saints
Earth*
Aurora vails her rofy face t
When brighter Phcebus takes her place ;
So glad will grace refign her room
To glory in the heav'nly home.
Kappy the company that's gone
From crofs to crown, from thrall to throne ;
How loud they fing upon the more,
To which they fail' d in heart before !
Blefs'd are the dead, yea, faith the word,
That die in Chrift the living Lord,
And on the other fide of death
Thus joyful fpend their pr ailing breath ;
" Death from all death has fet us free,
" And will our gain for ever be;
" Death loos' d the maffy chain of wo,
" To let the mournful captives go.
;d.VI. THE BELIEVER'S SOLILOQUY, i%
ith is to us a fweet repofe ;
bud was op'd to fhew die rofe %
cage was broke to Let us fly,
build our happy neil on high.
here we do triumphant reign,
And joyful ling in lofty ftrain :
Lo, here we reit, and love to be, >
" Enjoying more than faidi could iee.
" The thoufandth part we now behold,
i< By mortal tongues was never told ;
" We got a tafie, but now above
" We forage in the fields of love.
" Faith once dole down a diftant k'\{s,
6C Now love cleaves to the cheek of blifs :
" Beyond the fears of more mifhap
" We gladly reft in glory's lap,
" Earth was to us a feat of war,
" h\ thrones of triumph now we are.
" We long'd to fee our Jefus dear,
" And fought him there, but find him here.
" We walk in white without annoy,
" In glorious galleries of joy :
** And crown'd with everlafting bays,
u We rival Cherubs in their praife.
" No longer we complain of wants,
" Vv r e fee the glorious King of -faints,
" Amidft his joyful holts around,
" With all the divine glory crown'd.
Xi We fee him at his table head
" With living water, living bread,
" His cheerful guefts inceiTant load
" With all the plentitude of God*
" We fee the holy flaming fires,
" Cherubic and feraphic choirs ;
" And gladly join with thofe on high,
" To warble praife eternally.
26o
GOSPEL SONNETS.
Part V.
Glory to God that here we came,
And glory to the glorious Lamb.
Our light, our life, our joy, our all
Is in our arms, and ever lhall.
Our Lord is ours, and we are his ;
Yea, now we fee him as he is :
And hence we like unto him are,
And full his glorious image ihare.
No darknefs now, no difmal night,
No vapour intercepts the light ;
We fee for ever face to face,
The higheft Prince in higheft place.
This, this, does heav'n enough afford,
We are for ever with the Lord :
We want no more, for all is given ;
His prefence is the heart of heav'n."
While thus I laid my liPc'ning ear
Clofe to the door of heav'n to hear ;
And then .the facred page did view,
Which told me all I heard was true ;
t Yet fliew'd me that the heav'nly fong
SurpafTes ev'ry mortal tongue,
With fuch Hiyutterable ftrains
As none in fett'ring flefh attains :
Then faid I, " O to mount away,
" And leave this clog of heavy clay !
" Let wings of time more hafty fly,
" That I may join the fongs on high."
GOSPEL SONNETS.
pari: fl
THE BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES,
CONCERNING
X. CREATION AND REDEMPTION.
*. LAW AND GOSPEL.
3. JUSTIFICATION AND SANCTIFICATION.
4. FAITH AND SENSE.
5. HEAVEN AND EARTH.
CHAPTER I.
The Believer's Principles concerning Creation
and Redemption ; or, fome of the firft prin-
ciples of the Oracles of God.
The jirjl chapter of Genejts compendifed ; or, the jirjl Seven
Days Work, from the following Latin lines Engltfied :
x RIMA dies caelum, & terrain, lucemque, creavit.
Altera diftendit fpatium, difcrimen aquarum. \
Tertia fecernens undas, dat gramina terris.
Quarta creat folem et lmiam, coslefliaque aura.
Quinta dedit pifces, eadem genus omne volantum.
Sexta tulit pecudes, hominem quoque quem Deus ipfe
Condidit ; inde operis requies lux feptima fulfit.
In Englifh thus :
1. The firfl day heav'n, earth, light, Jehovah fent.
2. The next, a water fund'ring firmament.
3. The third made dry land fpring with flow'ry pride.
4. The fourth fet up bright lamps time to divide.
5. The fifth brought fwimming fifh and flying fowl.
6. The fixth, earth's herds, and man to bear the rule.
7. The feventh brought forth no more yetbrought the beft,
The lab'ri ng creatures and Creator's reft.
z6z GOSPEL SONNETS. Part VI.
, Or thus ;
The firft day at Jehovah's word,
Did heav'n, and earth, and light afford.
The next, a firmament fo wide
As might the waters' courfe divide.
The third, fevering land from feajtj
Made earth produce herbs, grafs, and trees.
The fourth, fun, moon and ftars of light,
Set up to rule the day and night.
The fifth made fifh in depths to move,
And fowls to fly in air above.
The fixth all earthly beafts did bring,
And man to be the creatures' king.
The feventh of all thefe days the heft,
Was made for God and man to reft.
Redemption work doth bring again
The firft: of thefe to be the main.
Fetching new heav'ns and earth in fight,
And immortality to light.
Since then the firft is now the beft,
Keep well this pledge of endlefs reft.
The fum of Creation.
All things from nothing, to their Sov'reign Lord
Odedient rofe at his commanding word.
Fa?r in his eye the whole creation flood ;
He faw the building and pronounc'd it good.
And now each work (while nature's fabric ftands)
Loud for its wife and mighty Lord demands
A rent of praife, a loud and lofty fong,
From ev'ry rational beholder's tongue.
SECT. II. Of Redemption.
The myflery of the Redeemer's incarnation ; or God .xnanifef
in the Heili. I Tim. iii, 16. John i. 14,
• What though the waters, (truck with dread,
Rife up and form a pyramid ?
I
Seel. IL THE BELIEVER's PRINCIPLES. 263
Though floods fliouid gufli from rocks and (tones,
Or living fouls from wither'd bones i
To hear of an incarnate God,
Is yet more wonderful and odd ;
Or to behold how God moil high
Could in our nature breathe and die.
What though the bright angelic forms
Degraded were to crawling worms ?
Thefe creatures were but creatures ftill,
Transformed at their Creator's will.
Though creatures change a thoufand ways,
It cannot fuch amazement raife,
Nor fuch a fcene as this difplay,
The eternal Word a piece of clay.
God-man a ftrange contexture fix'd ;
.Yet not confufed nor commix'd ;
Yet ftill a myftery great and frefh,
A Spirit infinite made flefh.
What though when nothing heard his call,
Nothing obey'd and brought forth all P
What though he nothing's brood maintain.
Or .all annihilate again ?
Let nothing into being pafs,
Or back again to what it was ?
But, lo ! the God of beings here,
As turn'd to nothing doth appear.
All heav'n\s afionifli'd at his form,
The mighty God became a worm.
Down Arian pride to him fhall bow,
He's Jefus and Jehovah too.
The fum cf Redemption.
With haughty mind to Godhead man afpir'd,
With loving mind our manhood God defir'd ;
Man was by pride from place of pleafure chas'd,
God man by love in greater pleafure plac'd.
264 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part VI.
Man feeking to afcend procur'd our fall,
God yielding to defcend remov'd our thrall :
The judge was call, the guilty to acquit,
The Sun defac'd to lend the fhades the light.
SECT. III. The Redeemer's Work.
Chrifl all in all, and our complete Redemption*
A Go/pel Catechifrn for young Chr'ijhans.
QUESTION.
Kind teacher, may I come to learn
In this abrupt addrefs,
By framing queftions that concern
My endlefs happinefs ?
Anf. Yea, child ; but if you'd learn to run
The great falvation race,
Know that the name of Chrifl: alone
Can anfwer ev'ry cafe.
Q. By fin, my God and all is loft,
O where may God be found I
A. In Chrifl:; for fo the Holy Ghoft
Shews by die joyful found.
Q. But how will God with fmful me
Again be reconcii'd ?
A. In Chrifl:, in whom his grace to thee
And favour is reveal'd.
Q. O how $iall I a fnarer prove,
And fee his glorious grace ?
A. In Chrifl: the image of his love,
And brightnefs of his face.
Q. Where fhall I feek all divine fiore,
And without fail obtain ?
A. In Chrift, in whom for ever more
His fulnefs doth remain.
Sea. III. THE BELIEVERS PRINCIPLES. 265
Q. But how (hall I efcape and flee
Th' avenging wrath of God ?
./£. In Chrift, who bore upon the tree
That whole amazing load.
Q. Alas ! Fm daily apt to ftray,
How (hall I heav'n-ward make ?
A. Through Chrift the confecrated way,
Defign'd for thee to take.
Q. Ah ! where's my title, right, or claim
To that eternal blifs ?
A. In Chrift alone, that elorious name,
The Lord our righteouihefs.
Q. But who unfit can enter there,
Or with fuch nafty feet ?
A. ~ Chrift by his blood prefents thee fair,
His Spirit makes thee meet.
Q. But may'nt my fpirit, weak as graft,
Fail ere it reach the length ?
A. Jefus, the Lord thy righteoufneft,
Will be the Lord thy ftrength.
Q. May'nt hellilh hofts, and wicked foes,
Sore by the way mole ft ?
A. Chrift is a friend to bridle thofe,
And give the weary reft.
Q. May'nt guilty confcience loudly brand,
And all my comfort chafe ?
A. Chrift with a pardon in his hand
Can mew his fmiling face.
Q. But how can divine mercy vent,
Where fins are great and throng ?
A. Chrift is the channel with defcent
That mercy runs along.
Q. But may not juftice interpofe,
And ftand in mercy's way ?
A. Jefus did all the debt thotrowes
To divine juftice pay.
Y
2&S GOSPEL SONNETS. PartVL
Q. Where fhall mine eyes the pardon fpy,
Unto my faving good ?
A. In Chrift's free promife fee it lie,
In his atoning blood.
Q. What ground have I to truft and fay,
The promife is not vain ?
A. In Chrift the promifes are Yea,
In him they are Amen.
Q. But where is Chrift himfelf, O where
With promifes fo fweet ?
A. Chrift's in the promifes, and there
Thy faith and he may meet.
Q. Is Chrift in them, and they in Chrift ?
How fhall I this defcry ?
A. His blood and Spirit therein lift
To feal and to apply.
Q. 'Gainft legal fiery threats of wrath,
Pray, what defence is be ft ?
A. Chrift's full obedience ey'd by faith ;
There fhould the guilty reft.
O. But how fhall faith be had ? Alas!
I find I can't believe.
A. Chrift is the author of that grace,
And faith is his to give.
Q. Ah ! when may faithlefs I expect
He'll fuch a blifs bequeath ?
A. He will of unbelief convict,
And pave the way for ; faith.
Q> Repentance muft attend, but whence
Shall i tliis grace receive ?
A. Chrift is exalted as a prince
All needful grace to give.
Q. How can fo vile a lump of duft
Heart-holinefs expect ?
A* Chrift ,by his holy Spirit mull
This gradual change effect
Seft. III. THE BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES. 267
Q. How mall I do the works aright
I'm daily bound unto ?
A. Chrift in thee, by his Spirit's might,
Works both to will and do.
Q. How fhall my maladies be heard,
So fore molefting me ?
y£ Chrrft is the great Phyfician feal'd
The Lord that healeth thee.
Q. By prayer I ought to feek his face*
This courfe how fhall 1 drive ?
A. 'Tis Chrift alone that has the grace
And fp'rit of prayer to give.
Q. Salvation-work is -great and high>
Alas ! what fhall I do ?
A. Chrift as the Alpha thereof eye,
And the Omega too.
Q. What pillar then is moft fecure
To build my hope upon ?
A. Chrift only the foundation fure>
The living corner ftone.
Q. When Pm with black pollution ftain'd,
How fhall I cleanfecT be ?
A. Chrift is a fountain for that end
Set open wide for thee.
Q. What fhall I do when plagues abound,
With forrows, griefs, and fears ?
A. Chrift has a balfam for thy wounds,
A bottle for thy tears.
Q. But is there any help for one
That utterly is loft ?
A. Chrift faves from fin, and he alone,,
Ev'n to the uttermoft.
Q. But where fhall I be hfe at lafl
From hell and endlefs death ?
A. Chrift is a refuge from the blaft
Of everlaftins: wrath.
268 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part VI.
Q. Bat mayn't ev'n natural death to me
Become a dreadful thing ?
A> Chrift by his death in love to thee
Did every death uniting.
Q. Why, Sir, is Chrift the whole you fay ?
No anfwer elfe I find.
A. Becaufe, were Chrift our all away,
There's nothing left behind.
Q. How can he anfwer every cafe,
And help in every thrall ?
A. Becaufe he is the Lord of grace,
Jehovah, all in all.
Q. How is he prefent to fupply,
And to relieve us thus ?
A. Becaufe his glorious name is nigh,
Immanuel, God with us.
Q. Has he alone all power to fave,
Is nothing left to man ?
A. Yea, without Chrift we nothing have,
Without him nothing can.
Q. Mayn't fome from hence take latitude
And room their lufts to pleafe ;
If Chrift do all, then very good,
Let us take carnal eafe?
A. Chrift will in flaming vengeance come,
With fury in his face,
To damn his foes that dare prefume,
And thus abufe his grace.
SECT. IV. Faith and Works both excluded from the mat*
ter of ] unification before God 9 that redemption may appear
to be only in Chrift*
Who dare an holy God addreis,
With an unholy righteoufnefs ?
Who can endure his awful probe,
Without perfection for their robe f
Sefi. IV- THE BELIEVERS PRINCIPLES. 269
None could his great tribunal face,
Were faith itfelf their faireft drefs :
Faith takes the robe, but never brags
Itfelf has ought but filthy rags.
Faith claims no fhare, and works far lefs,
In juftice-pleaiing righteoufnefs ;
The fervant were to be abhorr'd,
Would claim the glory of his lord*.
Blafphemous unbelief may claim
The praifes of the worthy Lamb :
But faith difclaiming all its beft,
Not orr itfelf, but Chrift,, will red*
I'm fav'd and juftify'd by faith,
Which yet no faving value hath ;
Nor e'er pretends to fave from thrall
But in its object has its alL
'Tis Chrift alone faves guilty me,.
And makes my right to life To free,
That in himfelf it ftands alone :
Faith takes the right, but gives me none*
I dare not act with this intent,
For acts of mine to draw the rent ;
Nor do 'good works with this defign,
To win the crown by works of mine.
I'd thus the promised grace forfake,
Nor Jefus for my Saviour take ;
Yea, this would dreadfully prefume,.
And work mine own eternal doom,
Prefumption cannot rife more high,
I'd make the truth of God a lie,
The God of truth a liar too !
What more mifchief could Satan do I
Why, I'd difcredit God's record
Concerning Jefus Chrift the Lord,.
His glorious and eternal Son,
Whole blood has life eternal won.
270 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part VI.
In him, fays God, this life !- give,
In him fhall therefore men believe,
My gift embracing in their arms :
None fhall be fav'd on other terms.
Vain man mud ftoop and freely take.
Or elfe embrace a burning lake :
Proud nature mud fubmit to grace,
And to the divine righteoufnefs.
In vain on works our hope is built,
Our actions nothing are but guilt :
The bed obedience of our own,
Dare not appear before his throne.
What finite worm can bear the load,
The fury of an angry God ?
What mortal vigour can withftand
The vengeance of his lifted hand i
The law can never fave us now,
To damn is all that it can do.
Heaven cafts all righteoufnefs of ours ;
The law of works is out of doors.
No merit, money, more or lefs,
Can buy the gifts of righteoufnefs.
O may 1 take what Heaven does give i
Jehovah help me to believe ;
And in that righteoufnefs to truft,
Which only makes a finner j-uft.
And then, the truth of faith to prove,
Lord, make my faith to work by love*
Chap. II. THE BELIEVERS PRINCIPLES. 271
CHAP. II.
The Believer's Principles, concerning the
Law and GofpeL
PARTICULARLY
1. The Myflery ~\
2. The Difference I r\c t .. --jVi-.il i
rr,, „ > Of Law and GofpeL
3. 1 he Harmony I r
4. The Place and Station J
- SECT. I. The Myflery of Law and GofpeL
JL HOUGH law-commands and gofpel-grace
Agree in mutual joint embrace, a
Yet law and gofpel in a fhock
Can never draw an equal yoke, b
The law of works, the law of grace,
Can't (land together in one place ;
The brighter fcene deftroys the dark,
As Dagon fell before the ark. c
a Rom. iii. 31, Do we then make void the law through faith ?
God forbid ; yea, we eftabJifh the law. Gal. iii. 21, Is the law then
againft the promifes of God ? God forbid : for if there had been
a law given which could have given life, verily righteoufnefs
ihould have been by the law.
b Pfalm cxxx. 3, 4, If thou Lord fliould mark iniquities, O Lord*
who fhall ftand ? But there is forgivenefs with thee, that thou
mayeft be feared. <v. 7, 8, Let Ifrael hope in fte Lord : for with
the Lord there is mercy, and with him is pienteous redemption*
And he fhall redeem Ifrael from all his iniquities. And cxliii. a,
O Lord, enter not into judgment with thy fervant : for in thy
light, fhall no man living be juftiiied. <v. 8, Caufe me to hear
thy loving kindnefs in the morning, for in thee do I trull : caufe
me to know the way wherein I fhould walk, for I lift up my foul
unto thee.
c Rom. xvi. 14, 15, Sin fhall not have dominion over you ; for
ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then ? fhall we
fin, becaufe we are not under the law, but under grace ? God for-
bid. Chap. vii. 4, 5, 6, Wherefore, my brethren, ye alfo are be-
come dead to the law by the body of Chrift; that ye fliould bo
227 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part VI.
They harmonize like marry'd pairs, d
Yet. are at odds, and keep not fquares : e
As mercy ftands from merit far,
The letter and the fpirit jar./
The law dees gofpel comforts harm,
The gofpel breaks the legal arm ; g
Yet both exalt each other's horn,
And garlands bring their head t' adorn, h
I through the law am dead to it.
To legal works and felf conceit ; i
married to another, even to him who is raif^gc from the dead, that
we mould bring forth fruit unto God. For when we were in the
fleih, the motions of lins which were by the law did work in our
members to bring forth fruit unto death. But -now we are deliv-
ered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held ; that
we fhould ferve in newnels of fpirit, and not in the oldnefs of the
letter. 2 Cor. iii 7 — 10, But if the mini Oration of death, written
and engraven in flones, was glorious, fo that the children of Ifra-
cl could not behold the face of tvlofes, for the glory of his coun-
tenance^ which glory was to be done away ; how fhall not the
rniniuration of the Spirit, be rather glorious ? For if theminiflra-
tion of condemnation be glory, much more doth the miniflration
of righteoufnefs exceed in glory. For even that which, was made
glorious, hath no glory in this refpecSt, by reafon of the glory that
excelleth.
d Gal iii. 24, Wherefore the law was our fchool matter to bring
us unto Chrifl, that we might be juflified by faith.
e Rom. xi. 6, And if (election be) by grace, then is it no more
of works ; otherwife grace is no more grace. But if it be of
works, then is it no more grace : otherwife work is no more
work.
/ % Cor. iii. 6, The letter killeth, but the fpirit glveth life.
g Heb. ii. 15, A»d deliver them who through fear of death were
all their life time fubjecT; to bondage. Phil. iii. 7, 8, 9, "But what
things were gain to me, thofe I counted lofs for Chrifl. Yea,
doubtlefs, and I count all things but lofs, for the excellency of the
.knowledge of Chrifl Jefus my Lord : for whom I have fuffered
the lofs of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win
Chrifl, and be found in him, not having mine own righteoufnefs,
which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Chrifl,
the righteoufnefs which is of God by faith.
b Gal. ii. 19, For I through the law am dead to the law, that I
might live unto God.
i Rom. vii. 6, But now we are delivered from the law, that be-
ing dead wherein we were held ; that we ihould ferve in newnefs
#
Chap. II. THE BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES. 273
Yet, lo ! through gofpel grace I live,
And to the law due honour give, k
The law great room for boafting makes,
But grace my pride and boafting breaks ; /
Yet all my boafls the law do kill, m
And grace maks room to boaft my fill, n
The gofpel makes me keep the law
Yet from its painful fervice draw ;p
It does all law demands fulfil, q
Yet makes them wholly void and null, r
of fpirit, and not in the oldnefs of the letter. <v, 9, For I was alive
without the law once ; but when the commandment came, fin re-
vived, and I died.
k Rom. vii. 4, Wherefore, my brethren, ye alfo are become dead
to the law by the body of Chrift ; that ye fhould be married to
another, even to him who is raifed from the dead, that we fhould
bring forth fruit unto God. And x. 4, Chrift is the end of the law
for righteoufnefs to every one that believeth.
/ Rom. iii. 27, Where is boafting then ? It is excluded. By what
law ? of works ? Nay ; but by the law of faith.
m Rom. iii. 19, Now we know that what things foever the law
faith, it faith to them who are under the law ; that every mouth
may be flopped, and all the world may become guilty before
God.
n I Cor. i. 39, 30, 31, That no flefh fhould glory in his prefence.
But of him are ye in Chrift Jefus, who of God is made unto us
wifdom, and righteoufnefs, and fancEtification, and redemption :
that according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in
the Lord.
o Titus ii. 11, 12, For the grace of God that bringeth falvation
hath appeared to all men ; teaching us, that denying ungodlinefs
and worldly lufts, we fhould live foberly, righteoufly, and godly ?
in this prefent world.
p Gal. v. 1, Stand faft therefore in the liberty wherewith Chrift
hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of
bondage.
q Rom, viii. 3, 4, For what the law could not do, in that it was
weak through the flefh, God did, fending his own Son, in the like-
nefs of finful flefli, and for fin condemned fin in the flefh ; that the
righteoufnefs of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not af-
ter the flefli, but after the Spirit.
r Rom. vi. 14, Sin fhall not have dominion over you j for ye are
not under the law, but under grace. Gal. iv. 4, 5, But when the
fulnefs of the time was come, God feat forth his Son made of a wo-
mill, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law,
274 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part VE.
The gofpel gives me no command,y*
Yet by obeying it I ftand, s
To ftrid obedience though I call, t
Does bind to none, but promife all. u
The law does ftricl commandment give
That I the gofpel news believe ; v
But yet it teaches no fuch thing,
Nor e'er could gofpel tidings bring, w
When I the gofpel truth believe,
Obedience to the law I give, x
And when I don't the law* obferve,
I from the gofpel method fwerve. y
/Gal. iii. 8, And the fcripture forefeeing that God would jiifti-
fy the Heathen through faith, preached before the gofpel unto A-
braham, faying, In thee fhall all nations be blelfed.
s Mark xvi. 16, He that beKevcth and is baptifed, fhall be faved.
/ i ThefT. i. 7, 8, The Lord Jefus fhall be revealed from heaven,
with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them
that know not God, and that obey not the gofpel of our Lord Je-
fus Chrifl.
u John iii. 17, God fent not his Son into the world to condemn
the world ; but that the world through him might be faved. And
xii. 47, And if any man hear my words and believe not, I judge
him not ; for I came not to judge the world, but to fave the
world. Heb. viii. 10, 11, 12, For this is the covenant that I will
make with the houfe of Ifrael after thofe days, faith the Lord; I
will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their heart6 :
and I will be to them a God, and they fhall be to me a people.
And they fhall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man
his brother, faying, Know the Lord ; for all fhall know me from
tlxe leaft to the greatest. For I will he merciful to their unright-
eoufnefs, and their fins and their iniquities will I remember no
more.
i> John iii. 18, He that believeth on him is not condemned ; but
he that believeth not is condemned already, becaufe he hath not
believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
iv Rom. x. 5, For Mofes defcribeth the righteoufnefs which
is Of the law, That the man which doth thefe things, fhall live
by them. And iii. 19, Now we know that what things foever
the law faith, it faith to them who are under the law : that every
mouth may be flopped, and all the world may become guilty be-
fore God.
x John iii. 18, He that believeth on him is not condemned.
* Viz. As it is a rule.
y Titus iii n> iz, See letter forfeited.
Chap. IL THE BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES. 275
Yet, if I do the law f obey,
I am not in the gofpel way, %
Which does no new obedience draw, &
Yet is the gofpel no new law. b
As precepts to the law belong.
Yet in the gofpel field are throng, c
Curs'd ev'ry gofpel {lighter is, d
Yet all its office is to blefs. e
It from the law has power to kill,/
Yet faving does its power fulfil : g
j- Viz, As it is a covennn'r.
« Gal. v. 3, 4, For I teftify again to every man that is circus*-
eiied, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Chrift is become
of no effect unto you, whofoever of you are juftiiied by the law ;
ye are fallen from grace.
a Pvom. xvi. 25, 26 — The myftery which was kept fecret lince
the world began — now is made manifeft, and by the fcriptures of
the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlafting
God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith.
b Gal. iii. ai, Is the law then againft the promifes of God! God
forbid : for if there had been a law given which could have given
life, verily righteoufnefs fhould have been by the law.
c Matth. v. 1 7— 48, Think not that I am come to deftroy the
law or the prophets : I am not come to deftroy, but to fulfil. For
Verily I fay unto you, Till heaven and earth pafs, one jot or one
tittle fliall in no wife pafs from the law, till ail be fulfilled, &c.
Pfalm cxix. 96, I have feen an end of all perfection ; but thy com-
mandment is exceeding broad.
d Heb. x. 36 — 29, For if we fin wilfully after that we have re-
ceived the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more facri-
fice for fins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery
indignation, which fliall devour the adverfaries. He that defpifed
Mofes' law, died without mercy, under two or three witnefies :
of how much forer punifhment, fuppofe ye, fliall he be thought
worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath
counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was fanclified,
an unholy thing, and hath done defpite unto the Spirit of grace ?
Chap. xii. 25, See that ye refufe not him that fpcaketh ; for if
they efcaped not who refufed him that fpake on earth, much more
fhall not we efcape, if we turn away from him that fpeaketh from
heaven.
e Rom. xv. 29, And I am fure that when I come unto you, I
fliall come in the fulnefs of the blefling of the gofpel of Chrift.
And iii. 26, Unto you firft, God having raifed up his Son Jefus,
fent him to blefs you, in turning away every one of you from hk
iniquities.
276 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part VI.
No favour but of life it hath, h
Yet moft the favour is of death, i
Weaknefs perfe<5Hon doth exclude,
The law is perfect, juft, and good : k
Yet can it nothing perfect make,
But all the comers to it break. /
Strength to the gofpel does belong,
Mighty through God it is, and flrong : m
It to the law does ftrength emit,
Yet 'tis the law gives ftrength to it.
/John iii. 18 — He that believcth not, is condemned already,
becaufe he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten
Son of God. Mark xvi. 16, He that believeth not fliall be dam-
ned. Heb. ii. 3, How fliall we efcape if we neglect fo great fal-
vation ?
g Eph. i. 13, In Chrift ye alfo truftcd after that ye heard the
word oT truth, the gofpel of your falvaticn. 1 Tim. i. 15, This is
a faithful faying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Chrift Jefus
came into the world to fave finners ; of whom 1 am the chief.
h Phil. ii. 16, Holding forth the word of life, &c. 2 Tim. i. 1,
Paul an apoftle of Jefus Chrift, by the will of God, according to
the promifc of life, which is in Chrift Jefus. v. 10— Our Saviour
Jefus Chrift hath aboliftied death — and hath brought life and im-
mortality to light through the gofpel.
i % Cor. ii. 26, To the one were the favour of death, unto
death, &c.
i Pfalm cxix. 96, I have feen an end of all perfection ; but thy
commandment is exceeding broad. Rom. vii. 12, Wherefore the
law is holy ; and the commandment holy, and juft, and good.
Heb. vii. 19, For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing
i'l of a better hope did ; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
/ Heb, viii. 19, See letter k. Chap. x. 1, For the law having a
fhadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the
things, can never, with thofe facrifices which they offered year by
year continually, make the comers thereunto perfect
m Rom. i. 16, For lam not afhamed of the gofpel of Chrift; for
ft is the power of God unto falvation, to every one that believeth,
to the Jew firft, and alfo to the Greek. % Cor. x. 4, 5, For the
weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God,
to the pulling down of ftrong holds : cafting down imaginations
and every high thing that exalteth itfelf againft the knowledge of
Ood and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience
of Chrift.
Chap. II. THE BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES. 277
The gofpel gives the law, I fee,
Sufficient flrength to juftify ; n
Yet may I fay, in truth it is
The law that gives the gofpel this ;
For as the law no finner clears,
But who the gofpel garment wears :
Sb none are juftify \\ by grace,
Unlefs the law demands have place./
Again the law, which yet feems worfe,
Gives gofpel news condemning force 5 rj
Yet they are news that never can,
Nor never will condemn a man. r
n Rom. viii. i, There is therefore now no condemnation to them
tyhich are in Chrifi Jefus, who walk not after the ileib, but after
the Spirit, v. 3, 4, For what the law could not do, in that it was
weak through the fleih, God did, fending his own Son, in thelike-
nefs of finful flefli, and for fin condemned fin in the flefli : that the
righteoufnefs of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not af-
ter the flefli, but after the Spirit.
Rom. iii. 31, Do we then make void the law through faith ?
Cod forbid ; yea, we eflabliih the law. Chap. x. 4, For Chrifl: is
the end of the law for righteoufnefs to every one that believeth.
p Rom. iii. 19—22, Now- we know that what things foever tfie
law faith, it faith %o them who are under the law ; that every
mouth may be flopped, and all the world may become guilty before
God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there fliali no flefli be
juflified in his fight : for by the law is the knowledge of fin. But
now the righteoufnefs of God without the law is manifefled, being
witnefTed by the law and the prophets ; even the righteoufnefs of
God which is by faith of Jefus Chrifl unto all, and upon all them
that believe; for there is no difference. Chap. v. 19 — By the
obedience of one fhal! many be made righteous. «y. 21 — Grace
reigns through righteoufnefs unto eternal life, by Jefus Chrifl our
Lord*
q John iii. 18, He that believeth on him is not condemned ; but
he that believeth not, is condemned already, becaufe he hath not
believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
r Luke ii. 10, 11, And the angei faid unto them (the fhepherds,)
Fear not ; for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which
' fliall be to all people. For unto you is bom this day in the city
of David, a Saviour, which is Chrifl the Lord. John iii. 17, For
God fent not his Son into the world, to condemn the world ; but
that the world through him might be faved. Chap. xii. 47, And
Z
278 GOSPEL SONNETS. PajitVI.
Dread threat'nings to the law pertain, $
Not to the gofpel's golden chain : t
Yet all law threats and Sinai's ire
To gofpel grace are walls of fire, u
The righteous law aflaileth none
Of Adam's guilty race, fave one ; v
Who being guilty, for this caufe
By God's juft law condemned was. <w
Yet free of guilt it did him fee ;
Hence fully clear'd, and fet him free, x
if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not : for
I came not to judge the world, but to fave the world.
s Gal. iii. 10, For as many as are of the works of the law, are
under the curfe; for it is written, Curled is every one that con-
tinueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law
to do them.
t Ae~ts xiii. 26, Men and brethren, children of the ftock of Abra-
ham, and whofoever among you feareth God, to you is the word
of this falvation fent.
u Mark xvi. 16-— He that believeth not, fhall be damned. Heb.
ii. 3, How fhall we efcape, if we neglect fo great falvation ? Chap.
x. 26- — 20, See letter Aforecited.
<u Rom. v. 19, For as by one man's difobedience many were
made finners : fo by the obedience of one fhall many be made
righteous. John xvii. 4, I have glorified thee on the earth : I have
finifhed the work which thou gaveft me to do.
iv Ifa. liii. 6 — The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Gal. iii. 13, Chrift hath redeemed us from the curfe of the law,
being made a curfe for us : for it is written, Cur fed is every one
that hangeth on a tree.
x Heb. vii.26, For fuch an high prieft became us, who is holy,
harmlefs, undefiled, feparate from finners, and made higher than
the heavens. Dan. ix. 24, Seventy weetft are determined upon thy
people, and upon thy holy city, to finifh the tranfgreffion, and to
make an end of fins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and
to bring in everlafting righteoufnefs, and to feal up the vifion and
prophecy, and to anoinfe;the raoft holy. 1 Tim. iii. 16, And with-
out controverfy, great is the myftery of Godlinefs ; God was man-
ifeft in the'fiefh, juftified in the Spirit, feen of angels, preached un-
to the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
Rom. ii. 13, For not the hearers of the lav/ are juft before God,
but the doers of the law fhall be. juftified. Ifa. 1. 8, He is near
that juftifieth me, who will contend with me ? let usftand togeth-
er, who is mine adverfary ? let him come near to me.
Chap. II. THE BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES. 285
But gofpel grace allows no boafts,
Save in the King, the Lcud of hods.
The law ftill irritates rny fin,
And hardens my proud heart therein;
But grace's melting power renews,
And my corruption firong fubdues,
The law with thunder, Sinai like,
Does always dread and terror fpeak ,
The gofpel makes a joyful noife,
And charms me with a ftill, calm voice.
The legal trumpet war proclaims,
In wrathful threats, and fire, and flames :
The gofpel pipe, a peaceful found,
Which fpreads a kindly breath around.
The law is weak through finful flefli,
The gofpel brings recruits afrefh :
The fir ft a killing letter wears,
The laft a quick'ning fpirit bears.
The law that feeks perfection's height,
Yet gives no flrength, nor offers might ;
But precious gofpel tidings glad,
Declare where all is to be had.
From me alone the law does crave,
What grace affirms in Chrift I have :
When therefore law purfuits Lntfarall,
I fend the law to grace for all.
The law Jbrings terrors to moleft,
The gofpel gives the weary reft :
The one does flags of death difplay,
The other fliews the living way.
The law by Mofes was expreft,
The glorious gofpel came by Chrift :
The aril dim nature's light may trace,
The laft is only known by grace.
The law may roufe me from my iloth
To faith and to repentance both :
286 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part VI.
And though the law commandeth each
1 Yet neither of thera can it teach*
Nor will accept for current coin
The duties which it docs enjoin ;
It feeks all, but accepts no lefs
Than coaftant, perfect righteoufnefs.
The gofpel, on the other hand,
Although it iffue no command,
But ftri&ly view'd, does whole confiil
In promifes and offers bleft ;
Yet does it many duties teach,
Which legal light could never reach :
Thus faith, repentance, and the like,
And fire that gofpel engines, ftrike.
They have acceptance here through grace,
The law affords them no fuch place :
Yet ftill they come through both their hands
Through gofpel leaching, law commands.
The law's a houfe of bondage fore,
The gofpel opes the prifon door :
The fir ft me hamper *d in its net,
The laft ^ fi eedoxn kindly let.
The precept craves, the gofpel gives ;
While that me prelfes, this relieves ;
And or affords the ftrength I lack,
Or takes the burden off my back.
The law requires on pain of death ;
The gofpel courts with loving breath :
While that conveys a deadly wound,
This makes me perfect, whole, and found.
There viewing how difeas'd I am,
I here perceive the healing balm :
Afflicted there with fenfe of need,
But here refrefn'd with meet remede.
The law's a charge for what I owe 5
The gofpel my difcharge to fhow ;
Chap. II, THE BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES. 281
Yet ftill no man its grace partakes,
But whom it truly godly makes, k
The lav/ withftands the gofpel path, /
Which yet its approbation hath ; m
The gofpel thwarts the legal way, n
Yet Will approve the law for ay.
God be merciful to me a firmer. 1 tell you this man went down
to his houfe jufHfTed rather than the other ; for every one that
exaiteth himfelf, fhall be abafed ; and he that humblet'h himfelf,
fhall be exalted, v, ar, 2 2, And he (the ruler) faid, All thefe have
I kept from my youth up. Now when Jefus heard thefe things,
he faid unto him, Yet lackefi: thou one thing; fell sM that thou
had:, and 'di (tribute unto the poor, and thou fhait have treafure la
heaven, and come, follow me,
i Rom. iv. 5, 6 5 To him that worketh not, but believcth on him
that juftificth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteoufaefs*
Even as David alfo defcrlfeeJth the hlehednefs of the man unto
oufaefs without works,
f God that bringeth faivatmu,
hath appeared to all men ; teaching us, that denying uiigpdUnefs,
and "worldly lefts, we fiiould live foberiy, righ:eouily and godly in
this present world ; looking for that blelcd hope, and the glorious
appearing of the great God, even our Saviour jefus Chrift; who
gave himfelf for us, that he .might redeem us from all iniquity, and
purify unto himfelf a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Chap. iii. 4, 5, After that the kindnefs and love of God our Sa-
,v.iour toward man appeared, not by works of righteouihefs which
we have done, but according to h's mercy he laved us, by the
warning of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy GLofc. n>. 3,
This is a faithful faying, and thefe things I will that thou ailirra
'Conftantiy, that they which have believed in God, m.Vnt be care-
ful to maintain good works : thefe things are good and prorkabie.
unto men.
/ i Cor. xv. 56 — Tile ftrength of fin is the lav/. Rom. vi. 14,,
Sin fliall not have dominion over you ; for ye are not under the
law, but under grace. Chap-, x, 3, Ifrael being ignorant of God's
righteoufnefs, have not fubraitted thcmfelves unto the rightoouf-
nefs of God.
m Ifa. xlii. 21, The Lord is well pleafed for his righteomnefh
fake, he will magnify the law, and make it honourable. Match.
iii. 17, And lo, a voice from heaven, faying, This is my beloved
Son, in whom I am well pleafed.
n Rom. ix. 31, 32, 2>h Cut Ifrael which followed after the law
of rightecufnefs, hath not attained to the law of righteoufnefs.
Wherefore ? Becaufe they fought it not by faith, but as it were by
fc 2
2$2 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part VL
Hence though the gofpel's comely frame
Ddth openly the law condemn : p
Yet they are blind who never faw
The goibel juftiry- the law. q
Thus gcfpel grace, and law commands,
"Both bind and loofe each other's hands :
They can't agree on any terms, r
Yet hug each other in their arms./
Thoie that divide them cannot be
The friends of truth and verity ; s
the v/crlrs of the law ; for they (tumbled at that {tumbling (lone ;
as it is written, Behold I lay in Zion a (tumbling (tone, and a rock
cf offence ; and whofoever believetb on him fliall not be afhamed.
o Rom. vh. 7, WJiat (hall we fay then ? Is the law fin ? God for-
bid. Kay, I had not known iin but by the law; for I had not
.1 lull, except the law had faid, Thou (halt not covet, v. 10,
Ana the commandment which was ordained to life, I found to be
unto death, v. 1 2, Wherefore the law is holy ; and the command-
: .-:nt, holy, and julf, and good.
p Rem. v. 5—9, For Moies defcribeth the righteoufnefs which
is of the law, that the man which doth thofe things, (hall live by
them. But the righteoujnefs which is of faith fpeaketh on this
wife, Say not in thine heart, Who (hall afcend into heaven ? (that
is, to bring down Chrift from above :) or, Who fhall defeend into
the deep ? (that is, to bring up Chrift again from the dead.) But
what faith- it ? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in
thy heart ; that is, the word of faith which we preach, That if
thou ihali e sniffs with thy mouth the Lord jefus, and (halt be-
lieve in thine heart that God hath raifed him from the dead, thou
fhalt be faved.
f Rom. iii. 31, Do we then make void the law through faith ?
God forbid : yea, we eftabliih the law.
r Gal.1v. 21 — 26, Tell me, ye that deiire to be under the law,
do ye not hear the law ? For it is written, that Abraham had two
fons ; the one by a bond -maid, the other by a free woman. But
he who was of the bond-woman was born after the flefli ; but he
of the free woman was by prornife. Which things are an allegory ;
for thofe are the two covenants ; the one from the mount Sinai,
which genderet-h to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is
mount Sinai in Arabia, and anfwereth to Jerufalem, which now
is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerufalem which is
above is free, which is the mother of us all.
/Pfalni hixxiv. 10, Mercy and truth are met together; right-
eoufnefs and peace have kiffed each other,
s Mat. xiii. 32, Wo unto you, Scribes and Pharifces, hypocrites ;
Chap. II. THE BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES. 283
Yet thofe that dare confound the two,
Deftroy them both, and gender wo. t
This paradox none can decypher,
That plow not with the gofpel-heifer.
for ye pay tithe of mint and anife, and cummin, and hive omitted
the weightier matter of the law, -judgment, mercy, and faith ; thefe
ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Rom-
ii. 23, Thou that makeft thy boaft of the law, through breaking
the )aw dishonoured thou God ? ~*v. 25, 26, For circumcifion verily
profiteth nothing, if thou keep the law ; but if thou be a breaker
of the law, thy circumcifion is made uncircumciiion. Therefore,,
if the uncircumciiion keep the righteoufnefs of the law, mall not
his uncircumciiion be counted for circumcifion ? Matth. xix. 6,
What God hath joined together, let no man put afunder. Chap s
iii. 15, And Jefns anfwering, faid unto him (John,) Suffer it to be
fo new : for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteoufnefs. Then
he fullered him. Chap. v. 17, Think not that I am come to de~
ftroy the law or the prophets : I am not come to deftroy, but to
fulfil, if. 19, 20, Whofpever therefore mall break one of thefe
leafl commandments, and mall teach men fo, he fhaJl be called the
kail in the kingdom of heaven ; but whofoever fhall do, and teach
them, the fame mail be called great in the kingdom of heaven,
For f fay unto you, That except your righteoufnefs ihall exceed
the righteoufnefs of the Scribes and Pharifees, ye {hall in no cafe
enter into the kingdom of heaven. 1 John. v. 6, This is he that
came by water and blood, even Jefus Chrife ; not by water only,
but by water and blood ; and it is the Spirit that beareth witnefs,
becaufe the Spirit is truth.
t Gal. i. 6, 7, 3, I marvel that ye are fo fo on removed from him
that called you into the grace of Chrift, unto another gofpel; which-
is not another ; but there be fome that trouble you, and which per-
vert the gofpel of Chrift. But though we, or an angel from heav-
en preach any other gofpel unto you, than that which we have
preached unto you, let him be accurfed. Zeph. i. 4 — J will cut off
— v. 5 — them that worfhip, and that fwear by the Lord, and that
fwear by Malcham. Acts xv. 7, And when there had been much
difputing, Peter role up and faid unto them, Men and brethren,
ye know that a good while ago, God made choice among us, that
the Gentiles by my mouth fliould hear the word of the gofpe3 3
and believe, v. 10, n, Now therefore, why tempt ye God to put
a yoke upon the neck of the difciples, which neither our fathers
ncr we were able to bear ? But we believe, that through the grace
of the Lord Jefus Chrift, we mail be faved, even as they. Gal. v,
I, Stand faft therefore in the liberty wherewith Chrift. hath made
us free, and be not entangled again in the yoke of bondage. v»
4, Chrift is become of no eftecl: unto you, whofoever of you are
juftified by the law ; ye are fallen from grace.
284 GOSPEL SONNETS. PartVL
LCT. II. The difference between the Law and the GofpeL
The law, fuppofing I have all,
Does ever for perfection call ;
The gofpel fuits my total want,
And all the law can feek dees grant.
The law could promife life tame,
If my obedience perfect be :
But grace does promife life upon
My Lord's obedience alone.
The law fays, Do, and life you'll win i
But grace fays, Live, for all is done ;
The former cannot eafe my grief,
The latter yields me full relief.
By law convinced of fulfill breach,
By gofpel grace I comfort reach t
The one my condemnation bears,
The other jiiftifl 23 and clears.
The law fliews my arrears are great,
The gofpel freely pays my debt :
The flrft does me the bankrupt curfe,
The lad does blefs and fill my purfe.
The law will not abate a mite,
The gofpel all the furri will quite :
There God in threat'nings is array 'd.
But here in promifes difplay'd.
The law and gofpel difagree,
Like Hagar, Sarah, bond and free t
The former's Hagar's fervitude,
The latter Sarah's happy brood.
To Sinai black, and Zion fair,
The word does law and grace compare..
Their curling and their bleffing vie
With Ebal and Gerizzim high.
The law excludes not boafting vain*
But rather feeds it to my bane :
Chap. II. THE BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES. 279
Yet, had not guilt his foul involv'd,
By law he could not been abfoiv'd. y
But he withal condemn'd and fpoil'd
The law cf works, which him ailbiPq : %
And now the law is (in thefc y-ie&sj
The manovv of the gofpel news, a
The law can juftify no man
That is a fmner, b yet it can
Thus favour finful men, and free
The chief of finners, guilty me:c
y % Cor. v. 2-1, God hath made Ghnft to be fin for us, who knew
no fin ; that we might be made the righteoufnefs of God in him.
I Pet. iii. 18, Chrift hath once fufFered for fins, the juft for the
urjuft, (that he might bring us to God) being put to death in the
flefli, but quickened by the Spirit.
% Col. ii. 14, 15, Blotting out the hand writing of ordinances
that was againft us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of
the way, nailing it to his crofs, and having fpoiied principalities
and powers, he made a fliew of them openly, triumphing over them
in it. Rom. yiii. 3, For what the law could not do, in that it was
weak through the flefli, God did, fending his own Son. in the like-
nefs of iinful flefli, and for fin condemned fin in the flefh.
a Rom. x, 4, For Chrift is the end of the law for righteoufnefs,.
to every one that believeth. Ifa. xlv. 24, Surely iliall one fay, In
the Lord have I righteoufnefs and ftrength. Jer. xxiii. 6, In his
days Judah fliall be faved, and Ifrael fliall dwell fafely ; and this
is his name whereby he iliall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHT-
EOUSNESS.
b Rom. iii. 19, 20, Now we know that what things foever the
law faith, it faith to them who are under the law, that every
mouth may be flopped, and all the world may become guilty be-
fore God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there fliall no flefii
be jmlified in his light; for by the law is the knowledge of fin.
€ The law of works, as fulfilled by Ghriit, can and does fo.
Rom. viii. 3, For what the law could not do, in that it was weak
through the flefli, God fending his own Son in the likenefs of fin-
ful flefli, and for fin, condemned fin in the fleili : that the right-
eoufnefs of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk net after
the fleili, but after the Spirit, v: 33, 34, Who fliall lay any thing
to the charge q| God's elect ? It is God that juftifieth ; who is he
that condemneth ? It is Chrift that died, yea rather, that is rifen
again, who is even at the right hand of God, who alio maketh tiw
terccflion for us.
28o GOSPEL SONNETS. Part VI.
The gofpel too acquitted none
That have not put perfection on. d
And yet it cleareth none (I grant)
But thofe who all perfection want, e
Thofe that with gofpel clearance meet,
Mud by the law be found complete \f
Yet never could (again I grant)
The gofpel juftify a faint, g
All perfect perfons it controuls, h
And juftiiies ungodly fouls ; t
d Rom. iii. 21, 22, But now the righteoufnefs of God without
the law is manifeftcd, being witnefied by the law and the proph-
ets ; even the righteoufneis of God which is by faith of Jefus
Chrift unto all, and upon all them that believe, for there is no dif-
ference.
e Rom. iv. 5, To him that workcth not, but believeth on him
that juftifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteoufnefs.
/i Cor. i. 30, But of him are ye in Chrift Jefus, who of God is
made unto us wifdom, and righteoufnefs, and fan (SI i fie at ion and
redemption. Col. ii. 10, And ye are complete in him, which is
the head of all principality and power.
g Matth. ix. 13 — I am not come to call the righteous, but fin-
ners to repentance. Rom. iii. 10, There is none righteous no not
.\z. Chap. ix. 30, 31, 32, What fhall we fay then? That the
Gentiles which followed not after righteoufnefs, have attained to
righteoufnefs, even the righteoufnefs which is of faith : but Ifrael
which followed after the law of righteoufnefs, hath not attained to
the law. of righteoufnefs. Wherefore ? becaufe they fought it not
by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. Chap. x. 3, If-
rael being ignorant of God's righteoufnefs; and going about to ef-
iablifh their own righteoufnefs, have not fubmitted themfelves un-
to the righteoufnefs of God. 1 Tirn. i. 15, This is a faithful fay-
ana, and worthy of all acceptation, that Chrift Jefus came into
the world to fave finners ; of whem I «Itl chief.
h Math. xxi. 31, Jefus faith unto them (the Pharifees) Verily, I
lay UGto you, that the publicans and the harlots go into the king-
dom of God before you. Luke xviii. 9 — 14, And Jefus fpake
thkoarrujle unto certain which truftcd in themfelves that they were
iien went up into the temple
\ and the other a Publican. The Phai>
-with himfeif: God, I thank thee that
i am riot as other men are, extortioners, linjuft, adulterers, or even
as this publican. I fail twice in the week, I give tithes of all that
I poiiefs. And the publican (landing afar oft) would not lift up fo
mvck as his eyes untQ heaven, but fmote upon his bread, faying,
Chap. II. THE BELIEVERS PRINCIPLES. 287
The one a fcene of fears doth ope ;
The other is the door of hope.
An angry God the law reveaPd;
The gofpel fhews him reconciPd :
By that I know he was difpleas'd ;
By this I fee his wrath appeas'd.
The lav/ thus fhews the dmne ire,
And nothing but confuming fire.
The gofpel brings the olive branch,
And blood the burning fire to quench.
The law ft ill fhews a fiery face ;
The gofpel fhews a throne of grace :
There juftice rides alone in ft ate ;
But here fhe takes the mercy feat.
IN SUM.
1*6 ! in the law Jehovah dwells,
But Jefus is conceaPd I
Whereas the gofpeFs nothing elfe
But Jefus Chrifl reveaPd.
SECT. III. The Harmony betzvlxt the Law and the'GofpsL
The law's a tutor much in vogue,
To gofpel grace a pedagogue ;
The gofpel to the law no lefs
Than its full end for righteoufnefs.
When once the fiery law of God
Has chas'd me to the gofpel road ;
Then back unto the holy law
Moft kindly gofpel grace will draw.
When by the law to grace Pm fchooi'd 5
Grace by the law will have me ruPd :
Hence, if I don't the law obey,
I cannot keep the gofpel way.
When I the gofpel news believe,
Obedience to the law I give :
288
GOSPEL SONNETS.
Part VI.
And that both in its fed'ral drefs,
And as a rule of holinefs.
Lo ! in my Head 1 render all
For which the fiery law can call ;
His blood unto its fire was fuel,
Hfs Spirit fhapes me to its rule.
When law and gofpel kindly meet,
To ferve each other both unite :
Sweet promifes, and ftern command,?,
Do work to one another's hands.
The divine law demands no lefs
Than human perfect righteoufnefs ;
The gofpel gives it this and more,
Ev*n divine righteoufnefs in ftore.
Whate'er the righteous law require,
The gofpel grants its whole defire.
Are law commands exceeding*broad ?
So is the righteoufnefs of God.
How great foe'er the legal charge,
The gofpel payment's equal large :
No lefs by man the law can bray
When grace provides a God to pay.
The law makes gofpel banquets fweet ;
The gofpel makes the law complete :
Law fuits to grace's (lore houfe draw ;
Grace decks and magnifies the law.
Both law and gofpel clofe combine,
To make each other's luftre fhine :
The gofpel all law breakers fhames ;
The law all gofpel flighters damns.
The law is holy, juft, and good ;
All this the gofpel feals with blood,
And clears the royal law's juft dues
Which dearly purchas'd revenues.
The law commands me to believe ;
The gofpel faving faith does give :
Chap. II. THE BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES. 289
The law enjoins me to repent ;
The gofpel gives my tears a vent.
What in the gefpel mint is coin'd,
The fame is in the law enjcin'd ;
Whatever gofpel tidings teach,
The law's authority doth reach.
Here join the law and gofpel hand?,
What this me teaches that commands :
What virtuous forms the gofpel pleafe
The fame the law doth authorife.
And thus the law commandment feals
Whatever gofpel grace reveals :
The gofpel alfo for my good
Seals all the law demands with blood.
The law moil perfect ftill remains,
And ev'ry duty full contains :
The gofpel its perfection fpeaks,
And therefore gives whate'er it feeks.
Next, what by law I'm bound unto,
The fame the gofpel makes me do :
What preemptively that can crave,
This effectively can engrave.
All, that by precepts Heav'n expects,
Free grace by promifes effects :
To what the law by fear may move,
To that the gofpel leads by love.
To run, to work, the law commands ;
The gofpel gives me feet and hands :
The one requires that I obey ;
The other does the power convey,
What in the law has duty's place,
The gofpel changes to a grace :
Hence legal duties therein nam'd,
Are herein gofpel graces fam'd.
The precept checks me when I ftray ;
The promife holds me in the way :
That (hews my folly when I roam,
And this moft kindly brings me home,
A a
290 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part VI.
Law threats and precepts both, I fee,
With gofpel promifes agree ;
They to the gofpel are a fence,
And it to them a maintenance.
The law will juftify all thofe
Who with the gofpel ranfom clofe j
The gofpel too approve for ay
All thofe that do the law obey.
The righteous law condemns each man.
That dare reject the gofpel plan ;
The holy gofpel none will fave,
On whom it won't the law engrave.
When Chrift the tree of life I climb,
I fee both law and grace in him :
In him the law its end does gain ;
In him the promife is Amen.
The law makes grace's pafture fweet,
Grace makes the law my fav'ry meat ;
Yea, fweeter than the honey comb,
When grace and mercy bring it home.
The precepts of the law me fhow
What fruits of gratitude I owe ;
But gofpel grace begets the brood,
And moves me to the gratitude.
Law terrors paufe the putrid fore ;
And gofpel grace applies the cure :
The one plows up the fallow ground,
The other fows the feed around.
A rigid mafter was the law,
Demanding brick, denying ftraw ;
But when with gofpel tongue it fmgs,
It bids me fly, and gives me wings.
IN SUM.
Both law and gofpel clofe unite,
Are feen with more folace,
Where truth and mercy kindly meets
In fair ImmanuePs face*
Chap. II. THE BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES. 291
SECT. IV, Tk proper Place and Station of the Law ami
th§Qofpd.
Note. That in the four following paragraphs, as well as in the
three preceding fe&ions, by Law, is moftly underftood the doc-
trine of the Covenant of Works ; and by Gofpel, the doctrine
of the Covenant of Grace.
Paragraph I. The place and Station of Law and Gofpel
In general.
When we the facred record view,
Or divine Teft'ment's Old and New ;
The matter in moft pages fix'd
Is law and gofpel intermixed.
Yet few, even in a learned age
Can fo refolve the facred page ;
As to difcern with equal eye,
Where law, where gofpel fever' d lie.
One divine text with double claufe
May fpeak the gofpel's voice and law's ;*
Hence men to blend them both are apt,
Should in one fentence both be wrapt.
But that we may the truth purfue,
And give both law and grace their due,
And God the glory there difplay'd ;
The following rules will give us aid.
'"> * Ex. gr. Lev. xx. 7, 8, San&ify yourfelves therefore, and be yc
holy : for I am the Lord your God. And ye fhall keep my flat-
utes, and do them : I am the Lord which fancftify you. I John
iv. 7, Beloved, let us love one another : for love is of God ; and
every one that loveth, is born of God, and knoweth God. Rom.
v. 21, That as fin hath reigned unto death, even fo might grace
reign through righteoufnefs unto eternal life, by Jefu3 Chrifi: our
Lord. Chap. vi. 23, For the wages of fin is death: but the gift
of God is eternal life, through Jefus Chrift our Lord. Markxvi.
15, 16, And he faid unto them, Go ye into all the world, and
preach the gofpel to every creature. He that beliex r cth and is
baptized, fhali be faved ; but he that believeth not, (hall he dam-
ned. John iii. 18, lie that believeth on him, is not condemned i
but he that believeth not, is condemned already ; becaufe he hath
not believed on the name of the only begotten Son of God* &c»
292 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part VI.
Where'er in facred writ we fee
A word of grace or promife free,
With bleffings dropt for Jefus' fake ;
We thefe for go/pel news may take.
But where a precept ftricT: we find
With promife to our doing join'd,
Or threat'ning with a wrathful frown ;
This as the law we j uftly own.
Paragraph II. The Place and Station of Law and Gof-
pel in particular : Where the difference is noted betwixt the
Go/pel largely viewed in its difpenfation y andflriclly in it-
felf; and betwixt the g of pel and faith receiving it.
Wouldst thou diftinctly know the found
Of Jaw and grace, then don't confound
The difpenfation with the grace :
For thefe two have a diftinct place.
The gofpel thus difpens'd we fee,
* Believe and thou (halt faved be ;*
If not, thou malt be damn'd to hell,
And in eternal torments dwell.
Here precepts in it are difpens'd,
With thieat'nings of damnation fenc'd ;
The legal fanclion here takes place,
That none may dare abufe free grace.
Yet nor does that command of faith,
Nor this tremendous threat of wrath,
Belong to gofpel ftrictly fo ;
But to its difpenfation do.
The method of difpenfmg here,
Does law and gofpel jointly bear ;
Becaufe the law's fubfervient
Unto the gofpel's blefs'd intent.
Precepts and threat'nings both make way ;
The gofpel bleffings to convey ;
Which differs much (though thus difpens'd)
From laws and threats whereby 'tis fenc'd.
* Believe, and thou fhalt faved be/
Is gofpel, but improperly 5
Chap. II. THE BELIEVERS PRINCIPLES. 293
Yet fafely men may call It thus,
Becaufe 'tis fo difpens'd to us.
Bur fare, the gofpel news we ling
Mud be fome other glorious thing,
Than precepts to believe the fame,
Whatever way we blend their name.
The gofpel treasure's fomething more
Than means that do apply the ftore 1
Believing is the method pav'd,-
The gofpel is the thing believ'd.
The precious thing is tidings fweet
Of Chrift a Saviour mod complete,
To fave from fin, and death, and wrath ;
Which tidings tend to gender faith.
Faith comes by hearing God's record
Concerning Jefus Chrift the Lord,
And is the method Heav'n has bleil
For bringing to the gofpel reft.
The joyful found is news of grace>
And life to Adam's guilty race,
Through Jefus righteoufnefs divine,
Which bright from faith to faith does (hi 112..
The promife of immortal bJifs
Is made to this full righteoufnefs :
3y this our right to life is bought ;
Faith begs the right, but buys it not.
True faith receives the ofrer'd good,
And promife feal'd v/ith precious blood 1
It gives no title to the blifs,
But takes th' entitling righteoufnefs,
This object great of laving faith,
And this alone the promife hath ;
For 'tis not made to faith's poor a fr ?
But is the prize that faith does take ;
And only as it takes the fame,
It bears a great and famous name ;
For felf, and all its grandeur, down
It throws, that Chrift may wear the crown,
But if new laws and threats were all
That gofpel properly we call,
a a a
?94 ' GOSPEL SONNETS. Part VI.
Then were the precept to believe,
No better news than ( do and live.'
If then we won't diftinguifh here,
We cloud, but don't the gofpel clear ;
We blend it with the fiery law,
And all into confufion draw.
The law of works we introduce,
As if old merit were in ufe,
When men could life by doing won,
Ev'n though the work by grace were done.
Old Adam, in his ignorance,
Deriv'd his power of doing hence :
As all he could was wholly due ;
So all the working ftrength he knew,
Was only from the grace of God,
Who with fuch favour did him load •;
Yet was the promife to his acl,
That he might merit by compact.
No merit but of paction could
Of men or angels e'er be told ;
The God-man only was fo high
To merit by condignity.
Were life now promis'd to our acl,
Oi to our works by paction tack'd ;
Though God fhould his affiftance grant,
7 Tis ftill a doing covenant.
Though heav'n its helping grace fhould yield.
Yet merit's ftill upon the field ;
We caft the name, yet ftill 'tis found
Difclaim'd but with a verbal found.
If one fhould borrow tools from you,
That he fome famous work might do ;
When once his work is well prepar'd,
He fure deferves his due reward ;
Yea juftly may he claim his due,
Although he borrow'd tools from you :
Ev'n thus the borrow'd ftrength of grace
Can't hinder merit to take place.
From whence foe'er we borrow powers,
If life depend on works of ours 5
Chap. II. THE BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES. 295
Or if we make the gofpel thus
In any fort depend on us ;
We give the law the gofpel place,
Rewards of debt the room of grace ;
We mix Heav'n's treafures with our tram,
And magnify corrupted flefh.
The new and gofpel covenant
No promife to our works will grant 5
But to the doing of our Head,
And in him to each gofpel deed.
To godlinefs, which is great gain,
Promife is faid to appertain :
But know, left you the gofpel mar,
In whom it is we godly are.
To him and to his righteoufnefs
Still primarily the promife is ;
And not even to the gracious deed,
Save in and through the glorious Head.
Pray let us here obferve the odds,
How law and grace take counter roads ;
The law of works no promife fpake
Unto the agent, but the act.
It primar'ly no promife made
Unto the perfon, but the deed ;
Whate'er the doing perfon fnar'd,
'Twas for his deed he had reward.
The law of grace o'erturns the fcale,
And makes the quite re verfe prevail :
Its promife lights not on the deed,
But on the doing perfon' s head ;
Not for his doing, but for this,
Becaufe in Chrift his perfon is :
Which union to the living Prince,
His living works and deeds evince.
Good fruits have promife in this view.
As union to the Branch they fhew 5
To whom the promifes pertain,
In him all yea, and all Amen.
Obferve, pray ; for if here we err,
And do not Chrift alone prefer,
296 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part VI,
But think the promife partly (lands
On our obeying new commands ;
Th' old cov'nant place to works we give, '
Or mingle grace with Do and Livq ;
We overcloud the gofpel charms
And alio break our working arms.
More honour to the law profefs,
But giving more we give it lefs.
Its heavy yoke in vain we draw,
By turning gofpel into law.
We rob grace of its joyful found,
And bury Chrift in Mofes' ground :
At beft we run a legal race
Upon the field of gofpel grace.
Paragraph III. The Gofpel no new Law^ but a joyful
found of Grace and Mercy *
Law Precepts in a gofpel mold,
We may as gofpel dodtrine hold ;
But gofpel calls in legal drefs,
The joyful found of grace fupprefs.
Faith and repentance may be taught,
And yet no gofpel tidings brought ;
If as mere duties thefe we prefs,
And not as parts of promis'd blifs*
If only precepts we prefent,
Though urg'd with Itrongeft argument,
We leave the wak'ned imner's hope
In darknefs of defpair to grope.
The man whom legal precepts chafe,
As yet eftrang'd to fov'reign grace,
Miftaking evangelic charms,
_.As if they flood on legal terms.
Looks to hirnfelf, though dead in fin,
For grounds of faith and hope within ;
Hence' fears and fetters grow and fwell,
Since nought's within but fin and hell.
But faith, that looks to promis'd grace,
Clean out of felf the foul will chafe,
To Chrift for righteoufnefs and ftrength 3
And find the joyful reft at length.
Chap. II. THE BELIEVERS PRINCIPLES. 297
Proud fiefh and blood will flartle here,
And hardly fuch report can bear,
That Heav'n all faving ftore will give
To them that work not, but believe.
Yet not of works, but 'tis the race
Of faith, that it may be of grace :
For feith does nothing but agree
To welcome this falvation free.
" Come down, Zaccheus, quickly come,
€i Salvation's brought unto thy home :
" In vain thou climh'fl the legal tree ;
44 Salvation freely comes to thee.
€i Thou dream'ft of coming up^o terms ;
" Come down into my faving arms ;
" Down, down, and get a pardon free,
" On terms already wrought by me.
" Behold the bleffings of my blood,
** Bought for thy everlafting good,
" And freely all to be convey'd
" Upon the price already paid.
" I know thou hail no good, and fee
" I cannot ftand on terms with thee,
« Whofe fall has left thee nought to claim,
H Nor aught to boaft but fin and fliame."
The law of heavy hard commands
Confirms the weak'ned fmners bands ;
But grace proclaims relieving news,
And fcenes of matchlefs mercy fhews.
No precept clogs the gofpel call,
But wherein grace is all in all ;
No law is here but that of grace,
Which brings relief in ev'ry cafe.
The gofpel is the promife fair
Of grace, all ruins to repair,
And leaves no fmner room to fay,
" Alas ! this debt I cannot pay ;
" This grievous yoke I cannot bear,
" This high demand I cannot clear."
Grace flops the mouth of fuch complaints^
And fiore of full fupply prefents,
r 9 8 GOSPEL SONNETS. PartVL
The glorious gofpel is (in brief)
A fov 'reign word of fweet relief;
Not clogg'd with cumberfome commands,
To bind the foul's receiving hands.
'Tis joyful news of fov'reign grace,
That reigns in ftate through righteoufaefs,
To ranfom from all threat'ning woes,
And anfwer all commanding do's :
This gofpel conies with help indeed,
Adapted unto finners need :
Thefe joyful news that fuit their cafe
Are chariots of his drawing grace :
'Tis here the Spirit powerful rides,
The fountains of the deep divides ;
The King of glory's fplendour mews,
And wins the heart with welcome news.
Paragraph IV. The Gofpel further def riled 9 as a hundli
of Good News and Gracious Promtfu*
The firft grand promife forxh did break
In threats againft the tempting make :
So may the gofpel in commands ;
Yet nor in threats nor precepts Hands :
But 'tis a doctrine of free grants
To miners, that they may be faints :
A joyful found of royal gifts,
To obviate unbelieving fhifts :
A promife of divine fupplies,
To work all gracious qualities
In thofe who, proneft to rebel,
Are only qualify'd for helL
Courting vile finners, ev'n the chief,
It leaves no cloak for unbelief;
But ev'n on grofs Manaffeh's calls,
On Mary Magdalen's and Saul's.
*Tis good news of a fountain op,e
For fin and filth ; a door of hope
For thofe that lie in blood and gore,
And of a falve for ev'ry fore.
Glad news of fight unto the blind j'
Of light unto the darken'd mind \
Chap. II. THE BELIEVERS PRINCIPLES. 293
Of healing to the deadly iick ;
And mercy both to Jew and Greek.
Good news of gold to poor that lack ;
Of raiment to the naked back ;
Of binding to the wounds that fmart ;
And reft unto the weary heart.
Glad news of freedom to the bound j
Of ftore all loffes to refund ;
^ Of endlefs life unto the dead ;
And prefent help in time of need.
Good news of heav'n, where angels dwell,
To thofe that well deferved hell ;
Of ftrength too weak, for work and war,
And accefs near to thofe afar.
Glad news of joy to thofe that weep,
And tender care of cripple fneep ;
Of fhelter to the foul purfu'd,
And cleanfmg to the hellifh hu'd :
Of floods to fap the parched ground,
And ftrearns to run the defert round j
Of ranfom to the captive caught,
And harbour to the found'ring yacht :
Of timely aid to weary groans ;
Of joy reftor'd to broken bones ;
Of grace divine to gracelefs preys,
And glory to the vile and bafe :
Of living water pure, that teems
On fainting fouls refrefhing ftrearns ;
Of gen'rous wine to cheer the ftrong,
And milk to feed the tender young ;
Of faving faith to faithlefs ones ;
Of foft'ning grace to flinty ftones ;
Of pardon to a guilty crew,
And mercy free, where wrath was due.
Good news of welcome, kind to all
That come to Jefus at his call ;
Yea, news of drawing power, when fcant,
To thofe that fain would come, and can't*
Glad news of rich myfterious grace,
Aad mercy meeting evVy cafe $
soo GOSPEL SONNETS. Part VL
Of (lore immenfe all voids to fill,
And free to whomfoever will :
Of Chrifi exalted as a Prince,
Pardons to give and penitence ;
Of grace overcoming ftubborn wills,
And leaping over Bether hills.
Faith comes by hearing thefe reports ;
Straight to the court of grace. reforts,
And free of mercenary thought,
Gets royal bounty all. for nought,
faith's wing within the clammy fea
Of legal merit cannot fly :
But mounting mercy's air apace,
Soars in the element of grace.
But as free love the bleffing gives
To him that works not, but believes ;
So faith, once reaching its defire,
Works hard by love, but not for hire.
CHAP. III.
The Believer's Principles concerning Jt/Jiifica-
tion and SanElificaiion ; their Difference and
Harmony.
SECT. I. The difference between Juftification and Sanflifi-
cation ; or righteoufnefs Imputed and grace imparted ; in
upwards of thirty particulars ■.*
IvIND Jefus fpent his life to fpin
' My robe of perfect righteoufnefs ;
But by his Spirit's work within
He forms my gracious holy drefs.
* Note. That (mctri caufa) Juftifeaiion is here fomethnes exprejfid ly
the words imputed grace, juftifying grace, righteoufnefs, &c.
Sanfiijication by the names, imparted grace, grace, graces, helincfs,
_chty 5 &c. *, 'which the judicious will eaftly under/land.
Chap, JUL THE BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES. 301
He as a Prieft me juflifies,
His blood does roaring confcience ftill ;
But as a King he ianctiries,
And fubjugates my ftubborn will.
He, juftifying by his merit,
Imputes to me his righteoufnefs ;
But, fan&ifying by his Spirit,
Infufes in me faving grace.
My juftifying righteoufnefs
Can merit by condign! ty ;
But nothing with my ftrongeft grace
Can be deferv'd by naughty me.
This juftifying favour lets
The guilt of all my fin remote ;
But fanctifying grace deletes
The filth and blacknefs of its blot.
By virtue of this righteoufnefs,
Sin can't condemn nor juftly brand :
By virtue of infufed grace,
Anon it ceafes to command.
The righteoufnefs which 1 enjoy,
Sin's damning power will wholly flay ;
And grace imparted will deftroy
Its ruling domineering fway.
The former is my Judge's atl
Of condonation full and free :
The latter, his commenced fa3 9
And gradual work advanced in me.
The former's infiantaneous,
The moment that I firft believe :
The latter is, as Heav'n allows,
ProgreJJive while on earth I live.
The firft will peace to confcience give,
The laft the filthy heart will .cleanfe ;
The firft effects a relative.
The laft, a real inward change.
The former pardons every fin,
And counts me righteous, free, and }u& t
The latter quickens grace within,
And mortifies my fin and luit.
Bb
3 o* GOSPEL SONNETS- Pa*t
Imputed grace entitles me
Unto eternal happinefs ;
Imparted grace will qualify
That heav'nly kingdom to pofTefs.
My righteoufnefs is infinite,
Both fubje&ively and in kind ;
My holinefs mod incomplete,
And daily wavers like the wind.
So lading is my outer drefs,
It never wears nor waxes old ;
My inner garb of grace decays
And fades, if Heav'n do not uphold.
My righteoufnefs and pardon is
At once moft perfect and complete ;
But fan&ity admits degrees.
Does vary, fluctuate, and fleet.
Hence fix'd, my righteoufnefs divine
No real change can undergo ;
But all my graces wax and wane,
By various turnings ebb and flow.
I'm by the fir ft as righteous now
As e'er hereafter I can be :
The laft will to perfection grow,
Heav'n only is the full degree.
The firft is equal, wholly given,
And ftill the fame in ev'ry faint :
The laft, unequal and unev'n,
Whilft fome enjoy what others want.
My righteoufnefs divine is frefti,
For ever pure and heav'nly both ;
My fanclity is partly jlejh,
And juftly term'd a menjlr'ous cloth*
My righteoufnefs I magnify,
'Tis my triumphant lofty flag ;
But pois'd with this, my fanftity
Is nothing but a filthy rag.
I glory in my righteoufnefs,
And loud extol it with my tongue ;
But all my grace, compar'd with this,
X underrate as lofs and 4ung*
Chap. III. THE BELIEVERS PRINCIPLES. 303
By juftifying grace, I'm apt
Of divine favour free to boaft j
By holinefs, I'm partly fhap'd
Into his image I had loft.
The rirft to divine jujiice pays
A rent to ftill the furious ftorm ;
The laft, to divine holinefs
Inftructs me duly to conform.
The flrft does quench the fiery law,
Its rigid cov'nant fully flay ;
The laft, its rule embroider'd draw,
To deck my heart, and gild my way.
The fuhjetJ of my righteoufnefs
Is Chrift himfelf my glorious Head \
But I the fubject am of grace,
As he fupplies my daily need.
The matter of the former too
Is only Chrift's obedience dear ;
But lo, his helping me to do
Is all the work and matter here.
I on my righteoufnefs rely
For Heav'n's acceptance free, and win ;
But in this matter mud deny
My grace, ev'n as I do my fin.
Though all my graces precious are,
Yea, perfect alfo in defire ;
They cannot ftand before the bar
Where awful juftice is umpire :
Bat, in the robe that Chrift did fpin,
They are of great and high requeft ;
They have acceptance, wrapt within
My elder Brother's bloody veft.
My righteoufnefs proclaims me great
And fair, ev'n in the fight of God ;
But fanctity's my main off fet
Before the gazing world abroad.
More juftify'd 1 cannot be
By all my moft religious acts ;
But thefe increafe my fanclity,
That's ftill attended with defects.
304 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part VI.
My righteoufnefs the fafeft ark
'Midft ev'ry threat'ning flood will be ;
My graces but a leaking bark
Upon a ftormy raging fea.
I fee in juftifying grace
God's love to me does ardent burn ;
But by imparted holinefs
I, grateful, love for love return^
My righteoufnefs is that which draws
My thankful heart to this refped ;
The former then is firft the caufe,
The latter is the fweet effect.
Chrift is in juftifying me,
By name, The Lord my righteoufnefs ;
But, as he comes to fan&ify,
The Lord my Jlrtngth and help he is.
In that I have the patient's place,
For there Jehovah's act is all ;
But in the other, I'm through grace-
An agent working at his call.
The firfl doesflavlftj fear forbid,
For there his wrath revenging ends :
The lajl commands my filial dread,
For here paternal ire attends.
The former does annul my wo,
By God's judicial fentenee pafs'd j
The latter makes my graces grow,
Faith, love, repentance, and the reft,
The firft does divine pard'ning love
-Moft freely manifeft to me ;
The laft makes fhining graces prove
Mine int'reft in the pardon free.
My foul in juftifying grace
Does full and free acceptance gain ;
In fanclity I heav'n ward profs,
By fweet affiftaucz I obtain.
The firft declares I'm free of debt,
And nothing left for me to pay ;■
The laft makes me a debtor yet,
But helps to pay it ev'ry day,
Chap. III. THE BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES. 305
My righteoufhefs, with wounds and blood,
Difcharg'd both law and juftice' fcore ;
Hence, with the debt of gratitude
I'll charge myfelf for evermore.
SECT. II. The Harmony between Jujllficatlon and Sanc-
tification.
He who me decks with righteoufnefs,
With grace will alfo clothe ;
For glorious Jefus came to blefs
By blood and water both.
That in his righteoufhefs I truft,
My fanch'ty will fhow ;
Though graces cannot make me juft*
They iliow me to be fo*
All thofe who, freely juftify 'd,
Are of the pardon'd race..
Anon are alfo fan&ify'd
And purify'd by grace.
Where juftice ftern does juftify,
There holinefs is clear'd ;
Heav'n's equity and fandtity
Can never be fever'd.
Hence, when my foul with pardon deck'd*
Perceives no divine ire,
Then holinefs I do affect
With paffionate deftre.
His juftify ing grace is fuch
As wafts my foul to heav'n :
I cannot choofe but love him much,
Who much has me forgiven.
The Sun of righteoufhefs that brings
Remiflion in his rays,
The healing, in his golden wings
Of light and heat, conveys.
Wherever Jefus is a Prieft, |
There will he be a King ;
He that affoils from fin's arreft,
Won't tolerate its reign*
BB2
3 c6 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part VI.
The title of a precious grace
To faith may juftly fall,
Becaufe its open arms embrace
A precious Chrift for all.
From precious faith a precious ftrife
Of precious virtues flow ;
A precious heart, a precious life,
And precious duties too.
Wherever faith does juftify,
It purifies the heart :
The pardon and, the purity
Join hands and never part.
The happy ftate of pardon doth
An holy life infer :
In fubje&s capable of both
They never funder'd were.
Yet in defence of truth muft we
Diftinclly view the twain ;
That how they differ, how agree,
We may in truth maintain.
Two natures in one perfon dwell,
Which no divtfion know,
In our renown' d Immanuel,
Without confiifion too.
Thofe that divide them grofsly err,
Though yet diftinft they be :
Thofe who confufion hence infer,
Imagine blafphemy.
Thus righteoufnefs and grace we muft
Nor funder nor confound ;
Elfe holy peace to us is loft,
And facred truth we wound.
While we their proper place maintain,
In friendfhip fweet they dwell \
But or to part or blend the twain,
Are errors hatch' d in hell.
To feparate what God does join.
Is wicked and profane ;
To mix and mutilate his coin,
Is damnable and vain*
Dhap. IV. THE BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES. 307
Though plain diftinction muft take place,
Yet no division here*
Nor dark confufion ; elfe the grace
Of both will difappear.
Lo ! errors grofs on ev'ry fide
Confpire to hurt and wound $
Antinomifts do them divide,
And legalifts confound.
CHAP. IV.
The Believer's Principles concerning Faith and
Senfe.
1. Of Faith and Senfe Natural.
2. Of Faith and Senfe Spiritual.
3. The Harmony and Difcord between Faith and Senfe.
4. The Valour and Victories of Faith.
5. The Heights and Depths of Senfe.
6. Faith and Frames compared; or, Faith building upoa
Senfe difcovered.
SECT. I. Faith and Senfe Natural, compared \ and diftin**
guifhed.
W HEN.Abram's body, Sarah's womb,
Were ripe for nothing but the tomb*
Exceeding old, and wholly dead,
Unlike to bear the promis'd £eed ;
Faith faid, IJhall an Ifaac fee ;
No, no, faid fenfe, it cannot be :
Blind reafon, to augment the ftrife*
Adds, How can death engender life ?
My heart is like a rotten tomb,
More dead than ever Sarah's womb ;
O ! can the promis'd feed of grace
Spring forth from fuch a barren place ?
Senfe gazing but on flinty rocks,
My hope and expectation chokes :
But could I, ikill'd in Abram's art,
O'erlook my dead and barren heart %
3 c8 GOSPEL SONNETS. PartVL
And build my hope on nothing lefs
Than divine power and faithfulnefs ;
Soon would 1 find him raife up fons
To Abram, out of flocks and (tones.
Faith acts as bufy boatmen do,
Who backward look and forward row j
It looks intent to things unfeen,
Thinks objects vifibie too mean.
Senfe thinks it madnefs thus to fleer,
And only trufts its eye and ear ;
Into faith's boat dare thru ft its oar,
And put it further from the fhore.
Faith does alone the promife eye ;
Senfe won't believe unlefs it fee ;
Nor can it truft the divine guide*
Unlefs it have both wind and tide.
Faith thinks the promife iure and good ;
Senfe doth depend on likelihood ;
Faith ev'n in ilorms believes the feers ;
Senfe calls all men, even prophets, liars.
Faith ufes means, but refts on none ;
Senfe fails when outward means are gone,
Truft s more on probabilities,
Than all the divine promi'fes.
It refts upon the rufty beam
Of outward things t&at hopeful feem ;
Let thcfe its fupport fink or ceafe,
No promife then can yield k peace.
True faith, that's of a divine brood,
Confults not bafe w r ith flefli and blood j
But carnal fenfe, which ever errs,
With carnal reafon ftill confers.
What ! wont my difciples believe
That I am rifen from the grave ?
Why will they pore on duft and death,
And overlook my quick'ning breath I
Why do they flight the word I fpake ?
And rather forry counfel take
With death, and with a powerful grave*
If they their captive can relieve ?
Chap. IV. THE BELIEVERS PRINCIPLES. 309
Senfe does inquire if tombs of clay
Can fend their guefts alive away ;
But faith will hear Jehovah's word,
Of life and death the fov'reign Lor A
Should I give ear to rotten duft,
Or to the tombs confine my trull ;
No refurreclion can I fee,
For duft that flies into my eye.
What ! Thomas, can't thou truft fo much
To me, as to thy fight and touch ?
Won't thou believe till fenfe be guide*
And thruft its hand into my fide ?
Where is thy faith, if it depends
On nothing but thy finger-ends ?
But blefs'd are they the truth who feal
By faith, yet neither fee nor feel.
SECT. II. Faith and Senfe Spiritual, compared arid dif
tingui/hed. Where alfo the Difference between the Ajjur*
*nce of Faith, and the AJfurance of Senfe*
The certainty of faith and fenfe
Wide differ in experience ;
Faith builds upon, Thus faith the Lord:
Senfe views his work, and not his word*
God's word without is faith's refbrt,
His work within doth fenfe fupport.
By faith we truft him without *pawns> * Pledgee
By fenfe we handle with our hands*
By faith the word of truth's received,
By fenfe we know we have believ'cfc
Faith's certain by f 'ductal a<5ls,
Senfe by its evidential fadfcs.
Faith credits the divine report,
Senfe to his breathings makes refort 1
That on his word of grace will hing,
This on his Spirit wihieffir*.
By faith I take the Lord for mine,
By fenfe I feel his love divine :
By that I touch his garment hem.
By this find virtue thence to dream,
3io GOSPEL SONNETS. Pakt VI.
By faith I have mine all on land,
By fenfe I have fome flock in hand :.
By that fome vijion is begun,
By this I Come fruit ton win.
My faith can fend ev ? n in exile,
Senfe cannot live without a fmile.
By faith I to his promife fly,
By fenfe I in his bofom lie.
Faith builds upon the truth of God,
That lies within the promife broad ;
But fenfe upon the truth of grace
His hand within my heart did place.
Thus Chrift's the object faith will eye,
And faith's the object fenfe may fee :
Faith keeps the truth of God in view,
While fenfe the truth of faith may fhew.
Hence faith's affurance firm can ftand,
When fenfe's in the deep may ilrand :
And faith's perfuafion full prevail,
When comfortable CenCe may fail,
I am affur'd, when faith's in act,
Though fenfe and feeling botlx I lack :
And thus myfterious is my lot,
I'm oft affur'd when I am not ;
Oft pierc'd with racking doubts and fears :
Yet faith thefe brambles never bears ;
But unbelief that cuts my breath,
And flops the language of my faith.
Clamours of unbelieving fears,
So frequently difturb mine ears,
I cannot hear what faith would faj r ,
Till once the noify clamours flay.
And then will frefh experience find,
When faith gets leave to ipeak its mind,
The native language whereof is,
My Lord is mine, and I am his.
Sad doubtings compafs me about,
Yet faith itfelf could never doubt ;, *
For, as the facred volume faith,
Much doubting argues little faitrv
Chap. IV. THE BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES. 311
The doubts and fears that work my grief,
Flow not from faith, but unbelief ;
For faith, whene'er it að, cures
The plague of doubts, and me affures:
But when mine eye of faith's afleep,
I dream of drowning in the deep :
But as befals the fleeping eye,
Though fight remain, it cannot fee ;
The feeing faculty abides,
Though fleep from active feeing hides ;
So faith's alluring powers endure
Ev'n when it ceafes to affure.
There's ftill perfuafion in my faith,
Ev'n when I'm fill'd with fears of wrath i
The trufting habit ftill remains,
Though (lumbers hold the acl in chains.
Th' afluring faculty it keeps,
Ev'n when its eye in darknefs deeps,
Wrapt up in doubts ; but when it wakes,
It roufes up afluring acls.
SECT. III. The Harmony and Difcord between Faith
and Senfe ; how they help % and how they mar each other.
Though gallant faith can keep the field,
When cow'rdly fenfe will fly or yield ;
Yet while I view their ufual path,
Senfe often (lands and falls with faith.
Faith ufhers in fweet peace and joy,
Which further heartens faith's employ :
Faith like the head, and fenfe the heart,
Do mutual vigour frefh impart.
When lively faith and feeling fweet,
Like deareft darlings, kindly meet,
They ftraight each other help and hug
In loving friendfhip clofe and fnug.
Faith gives to fenfe both life and breath,
And fenfe gives joy and flrength to faith %
u O now," fays faith, " how fond do I
u In fenfe's glowing bofom He I"
3 i* GOSPEL SONNETS. Part VI.
Their mutual kindnefs then is fuch,
That oft they doating too too much*
Embrace each other out of breath ;
As jEfop hugg'd his child to death.
Faith leaping into fenfe's arms,
Allur'd with her bewitching charms,
In hugging thefe, lets raihly flip
The proper object of its gripe.
Which being loft, behold the thrall !
Anon faith lofes fenfe and all ;
Thus unawares cuts fenfe's breath.
While fenfe trips up the heels of faith.
Her charms affirming Jefus' place,
While faith's lull'd in her foft embrace;
Lo! foon in dying pleafures wrapt,
Its living joy away is fnapt.
SECT. IV. The Valour and ViSories of Faith.
By faith I unfeen Being fee
Forth lower beings call,
And fay to nothing, Let It be>
And nothing hatches all.
T>y faith I know die worlds were made
By God's great word of might ;
How foon, Let there be light, he faid,
That moment there was light.
By faith I foar and force my flight,
Through all the clouds of feniej
I fee the glories out of fight,
With brighteft evidence.
By faith 1 mount the azure fky,
And from the lofty fphere,
The earth a little mote efpy,
Unworthy of my care.
By faith I fee the unfeen things,
Hid from all mortal eyes ;
Proud reafon ftretching all its wings ?
Beneath me fluttering lies.
By faith I build my laiting hope
On righteoufnefs divine $
Chap. IV. THE BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES. 313
Nor can I fink with fuch a prop,
Whatever dorms c ombine.
By faith my works, my righteoufnefs,
And duties all I own
But lofs and dung ; and lay my ftrefs
On what my Lord has done.
By faith I overcome the world,
And all its hurtful charms ;
I'm in the heav'nly chariot hurl'd
Through all oppofing harms.
By faith I have a conquering power
To tread upon my /oes,
To triumph in a dying hour,
And banifh all my woes.
By faith in midft of wrongs I'm right.
In fad decays I thrive ;
In weaknefs I am ftrong in might,
In death 1 am alive.
By faith I ft and when deep I fall,
In darknefs I have light ;
Nor dare I doubt and queftion all
When all is out of fight.
By faith I truft a pardon free,
Which puzzles flefh and blood ;
To think that God can juftrfy,
Where yet he fees no good.
By faith I keep my Lord's commands.
To verify my truft ;
I purify my heart and hands,
And mortify my luft.
By faith my melting foul repents, *
When pierced Chrift appears ;
My heart in grateful praifes vents,
Mine eyes in joyful tears.
By faith I can the mountains vafi;
Of fin and guilt remove ;
And them into the ocean caft,
The fea of blood and love.
By faith I fee Jehovah high
Upon a throne of grace ;
Cc
3i4 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part VI.
I fee him lay his vengeance by*
And fmile in Jefus' face.
By faith I hope to fee the Sun,
The light of grace that lent ;
His everlafting circles run,
In glory's firmament.
By faith I'm more than conqueror,
Ev'n though I nothing can,
Becaufe I fet Jehovah's power
Before me in the van.
By faith I counter-plot my foes,
Nor need their ambufli fear ;
Becaufe my life-guard alfo goes
Behind me in the rear.
By faith I walk, I run, I fly,
By faith I fuiFer thrall ;
By faith I'm fit to live and die,
By faith I can do all.
SECT. V. The Heights and Depths of Senfe.
When Heav'n me grants, at certain times,
Amid ft a powerful gale,
Sweet liberty to moan my crimes,
And wand 'rings to bewail ;
Then do I dream my fmful brood,
Drown'd in the ocean main
Of chryftal tears and crimfon blood,
Will never live again.
I get my foes beneath my feet,
I bruifethe ferpent's head ;
I hope the vict'ry is complete,
And all my lufts are dead.
How gladly do I think and fay,
When thus it is with me,
Sin to my ienfe is clean away,
And fo fhall ever be.
But, ah ! alas ! th' enfuing hour ;
My lufts arife and fwell,
They rage and reinforce their power?
With new recruits from helh
€hap, IV. THE BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES. 315
Tho' I refolv'd and fwore, through grace,
In very folemn terms,
I never fiiould my luils embrace,
Nor yield unto their charms ;
Yet fuch deceitful friends they are,
While I no danger dream,
I'm fnar'd before I am aware,
And hurry'd down the ftream.
Into the gulph of fin anon,
I'm plunged head and ears ;
Grace to my fenfe is wholly gone,
And I am chain'd in fears ;
Till ftraight my Lord with fweet furprife
Returns to loofe my bands,
With kind compaflion in his eyes,
And pardon in his hands :
Yet thus my life is nothing elfe
But heav'n and hell by turns ;
My foul, that now in Gofhen dwells,
Anon inJEgypt mourns.
SECT. VI. Faith and Frames compared : or, Faith build-
ing upon Senfe difcovered.
Faith has for its foundation broad
A ftable rock on which I-ftand,
The truth and iaithfulnefs of God ;
AH other grounds are finking fand.
My frames and feelings ebb and flow ;
And when >my faith depends on them,
It fleets and ftaggers to and fro,
And dies amidil the dying frame.
That faith is furely mod unitay'd,
Its ftagg'ring can't be counted flrange,
That builds its hope of lading aid
On things that every moment change.
But could my faith lay all its load
On Jefus' everlafting name
Upon the righteoufnefs of God,
And dirine truth that's ftill the fame :,
316 GOSPEL SONNETS. Fart VI.
Could I believe what God has fpoke,
Rely on his unchanging love,
And ceafe to grafp at fleeting fmoke,
No changes would my mountain move.
But when, how foon the frame's away.
And comfortable feelings fail ;
So foon my faith falls in decay,
And unbelieving doubts prevail :
This proves the charge of latent vice,
And plain my faith's defects may (how
I build the houfe on thawing ice,
That tumbles with the melting fnow.
When divine fmiles in fight appear,
And I enjoy the heav'nly gale ;
When wind and tide and all is fair,
I dream my faith (hall never fail ;
My heart will falfe conclusions draw,
That ftrong my mountain fhall remain,
That in my faith there is no flaw,
Pll never never doubt again.
I think the only reft I take,
Is God's unfading word and name ;
And fancy not my faith fo weak,
As e'er to truft a fading frame.
But, ah ! by fudden turns I fee
My lying heart's fallacious guilt,
And that my faith, not firm in me,
On finking fand was partly built :
For, lo ! when warming beams are gone,
And fhadows fall ; alas ! 'tis odd,
1 cannot wait the rifmg Sun,
I cannot truft a hiding God.
So much my faith's afliftanee feems.
Its life from fading joys to bring,
That when 1 lofe the dying ftreams,
I cannot truft the living fpring.
When drops of comfort quickly dry'd,.
And fenfible enjoyments fail :
When cheering apples are deny'd,
Then, doubts, inftead of faith, prevail.
Chap. IV. THE BELIEVERS PRINCIPLES. 317
But why, though fruit be fnatch'd from me,
Should I diiiruft the glorious Root ;
And ftill affront the Handing Tree,
By trailing more to falling fruit ?
The fmalleft trials may evince
My faith unfit to ftand the fhock,
That more depends on fleeting fenfe,
Than on the fix'd eternal Rock.
The iafeft ark, when floods arife,
Is ftable truth that changes not :
How weak's my faith, that more relies
On feeble fenfe' s floating boat !
For when the fleeting frame is gone,
I (Iraight my (late in queftion call ;
I droop and fink in deeps anon,
As if my frame were all in all.
But though I mifs the pleafmg gale,
And Heav'n withdraw the charming glance |
Unlefs Jehovah's oath can fail,
My faith may keep it countenance.
The frame of nature lhail decay,
Time changes break her ruily chains ;
Yea, heav'n and earth fliall pafs away ;
But faith's foundation firm remains.
Heav'n' s p'romifes fo fix' dry ftand,
Engrav'd with an immortal pen,
In great ImmanuePs mighty hand,
All hell's attempts to raze are vain.
Did faith with none hut truth advife,
My fteady foul would move no more.
Than ftable hills when tempefts rife,
Or folid rocks when billows roar.
But when my faith the counfel hears
Of prefent fenfe and reafon blind,
My wav'ring fpirit then appears
A feather tofs'd with ev'ry wind.
Lame legs of faith unequal crook :
Thus mine, alas ! uneven ftand,
Elfe I would truft my ftable Rock,
Not fading frames and feeble fand.
c c 2 '
I
jig GOSPEL SONNETS. PartVL
I would, when dying comforts fly,
As much as when they prefent were,
Upon my living joy rely,
Help, Lord, for here I daily err.
CHAR V.
The Believer's Principles concerning Heaven
and Earth.
SECT. L The Work and Contention of Heaven,
In heav'nly choirs a queftion rofe,
That ftirr'd up ftrife will never clofe,
What rank of all the ranfom'd race
Owes higheft praife to fov'reign grace ?
Babes thither caught from womb and breaft^
Claimed right to fing above the reft ;
Becaufe they found the happy fliore
They never faw nor fought before.
Thofe that arrive at riper age
Before they left the duiky ftage,
Thought grace deferv'd yet higher praife,
That wahVd the blots of num'rous days.
Anon the war more clofe began,
What prafing harp fKould lead the van I
And which of grace's heav'nly peers
Was deepeft run in her arrears ?
" 'Tis I (faid one,) 'bove all my race,
" Am debtor chief to glorious grace."
M Nay, (faid another,) hark, I trow,
" I'm more oblig'd to grace than you.'
" Stay, (faid a third,) I deepeft (hare
" In owing praife beyond compare :
« The chief of fmners, you'll allow,
" Muft be the chief of fingers now."
" Hold (faid a fourth,) I here proteft
' « My praifes muft outvie the beft ;
Chap. V. THE BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES. 319
" For I'm of all the human raee
" The higheft miracle of grace."
" Stop, (laid a fifth,) thefe notes forbear*
" Lo, I'm the greateft wonder here \
" For I of all the race that fell,
H Deferv'd the loweft place in hell."
A foul that higher yet afpir'd,
With equal love to- Jefus fir'd,
" 'Tis mine to ling the higheft notes
" To love, that walh'd the fouleft blots."
" Ho, (cry'd a mate,) 'tis mine I'll prove f
** Who finn'd in fpite of light and love,
** To found his praife with loudeft bell,
*' That fav'd me from the loweft hell.
" Come, come, (faid one,) I'll hold the plea,
" That higheft praife is due by me ;
V For mine, of all the fav'd by grace,
" Was the moft dreadful, defp'rate cafe."
Another riling at his fide,
As lond of praife, and free of pride,
Cry'd, " Pray give place, for I defy,
" That you mould owe more praife than I:
" I'll yield to none in this debate ;
" I'm run fo deep in grace's debt,
" That fure I am, I boldly can
" Compare with all the heav'nly clan.'*
Quick o'er their heads a trump awoke,
" Your fongs my very heart have fpoke ;
" But ev'rj note you here propale,
"Belongs to me beyond you all."
The lift'ning millions round about
With fweet refentment loudly Ihout ;
" What voice is this, comparing notes,
" That to their fong chief place allots ?
" We can't allow of fuch a found,
" That you alone have higheft ground
" To fing the royalties of grace ;
" We claim the fame adoring place."
What ! will no rival finger yield
He has a match upon the field ?
3 20 GOSPEL SONNETS. Part VI.
" Come, then, and let us all agree
" To praife upon the higheft key/'
Then jointly all the harpers round
In mind unite with folemn found,
And ftrokes upon the higheft ft ring*
Made all the heav'nly arches ring :
Ring loud with hallelujah's high,
To him that fent his Son to die ;
And to the worthy Lamb of God,
That lotfd and <wa/h y d them in his blood.
Free grace was ibv'reign emprefs crown'd
In pomp, with joyful fliouts around ;
Aflifting angels clapp'd their wings,
And founded grace on all their firings.
The emulation round the throne
Made proftrate hods (who ev'ry one
The humbleft place their right avow)
Strive who Jhauld give the loivejl botv*
The next contention without vice
Among the birds of paradife,
Made every glorious warbling throat
Strive whojhould raife the higheji note*
Thus in fweet holy humble ftrife,
Along their endlefs, joyful life
Of-Jsfus all the harpers rove,
And fmg the wonders of his love.
Their difcord makes them all unite
In raptures mod divinely fweet
So great the fong, fo grave the bafe,
Melodious mufic fills the place.
SECT. II. Earth defplcahle, Heaven defirahk*
There's nothing round the fpacious earth
To fuit my vaft defires ;
To more re£n'd and folid mirth
My boundl efs thought afpires.
Fain would I leave this mournful place^
This mufic dull, where none
But heavy notes have any grace,
And mirth accents the moan.
Chap. V. THE BELIEVERS PRINCIPLES. 321
Where troubles tread upon reliefs,
New woes with older blend ;
When rolling ftorros and circling griefs
Run round without an end :
Where waters wreftling with the ftones,
Do fight themfelves to foam,
And hollow clouds with thundering groans
Difcharge their pregnant womb :
Where eagles mounting meet with rubs
That dafh them from the fky :
And cedars fhrinking into fhrubs,
In ruin proftrate lie :
Where fin, the author of turmoils,
The caufe of death and hell,
The one thing foul that all things foils ;
Does moft befriended dwell.
The purchafer of night and woe,
The forfeiture of day,
The debt that ev'ry man did owe,
But only God could pay.
Bewitched ill, indors'd with hope,
Subfcribed with defpair ;
Ugly in death when eyes are ope,
Though life may paint it fair.
Small wonder that I droop alone
In fuch a doleful place :
When lo, my deareft friend is gone
My father hides his face.
And though in words I feem to {how
The fawning poet's ftile,
Yet is my plaint no feigned woe ;
I languifh in exile.
I long to fiiare the happineis
Of that triumphant throng,
That fwim in feas of boundlefs blifs
Eternity along.
When but in drops here by the way
Free love diftils itfelf,
I pour contempt on hills of prey,
And heaps of wordly pelf.
322 GOSPEL SONNETS. Fart VI.
To be amidft my little joys,
Thrones, fceptres, crowns, and kings*
Are nothing elfe but little toys*
And defpicable things.
Down with difdain earth's pomp I thruft,
Bid tempting wealth away :
Heaven is not made of yellow dujt y <■
Nor blifs of glitfring clay.
Sweet was the hour I freedom felt
To call my Jefus mine ;
To fee his fmiling face, and melt
In pleafures all divine.
Let fools an heaven of fhades purfue,
But I for fub fiance am :
The hcav'n I leek is lihenefs to
And vj/ton of the Lamb :
The worthy Lamb with glory crown'd
In his auguft abode ;
Inthron'd fublime, and deck'd around
With all the pomp of God.
I long to join the faints above,
Who, crown'd with glorious bays,
Through radiant files of angels move,
And rival them in praife :
In praife to J AH, the God of love,
The fair incarnate Son,
The holy co-eternal Dove,
The good, the great Three-one.
In hope to fmg without a fob
The anthem ever new,
I gladly bid the dufty globe,
And vain delights^ Adieu*.
■ i
SMOKING SPIRITUALIZED. 323
The following Poem, the fecond part of which was wrote
by Mr. Erfkine, is here inferted, as a proper fubjecl:
of Meditation to Smokers of Tobacco.
SMOKING SPIRITUALIZED.
IN TWO PARTS.
The frji Part being an old Meditation upon Smoking Tola:.-*
€0 ; the fecond a new addition to it, or Improvement of it*
PART I.
* 1 HIS Indian weed now wither'd quite,
"Though green at noon, cut down at night.
Shews thy decay ;
All flefli is hay.
Thus think, and fmoke tobacco.
The pipe, fo lily like and weak,
Does thus thy mortal date befpeak.
Thou art ev'n fuch,
Gone with a touch.
Thus think, and fmoke tobacco.
% And when the fmoke afcends on high 5
Then thou behold' ft the vanity
Of worldly fluff,
Gone with a puff.
Thus think, and fmoke tobacco.
And when the pipe grows foul within,
Think on thy foul defil'd with fin ;
For then the fire
It does require.
Thus think, and fmoke tobacco,
And feeft the afhes cart away ;
Then to thyfelf thou mayeft fay,
That to the duft
Return thou mud.
Thus jhink, and fmoke tobacco*
324 SMOKING SPIRITUALIZED.
PAR.T II.
WAS this fmall plant for thee cut down ?
So was the Plant of Great Renown ;
Which mercy fends
For nobler ends.
Thus think, and fmoke tobacco.
Doth juice medicinal proceed
From iuch a naughty foreign weed ?
Then what's the power
Of Jeffe's flower?
Thus think, and fmoke tobacco.
The promife, like the pipe, inlays,
And by the mouth of faith conveys
What virtue fxows
From Sharon's Rofe.
Thus think, and fmoke tobacco.
In vain th' unlighted pipe you blow ;
'Your pains in outward means are fo.
Till heav'nly fire
Your hearts infpire.
Thus think, and fmoke tobacco.
The fmoke, like burning incenfe, towers ;
So ihould a praying heart of yours
With ardent cries
Surmount the fkies.
Thus think, and fmoke tobacco.
FINIS.
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
014 150 601 8
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
014 150 601 8
